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11 – 20 of 90Joseph C. Santora, James C. Sarros and Mark Esposito
Presents findings of a recent survey conducted on small to mid‐sized nonprofit organizations about the types of leadership development initiatives they offer employees.
Abstract
Purpose
Presents findings of a recent survey conducted on small to mid‐sized nonprofit organizations about the types of leadership development initiatives they offer employees.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey and interview methods used to collect data from nonprofit executive directors who participated in this study.
Findings
Most survey participants do not have the financial and other organizational capacities to offer leadership development initiatives to employees. In‐service workshops are the most frequent type of initiative and unfortunately often this learning initiative has a low impact given its limited short‐term exposure to participants. Other leadership development initiatives may be more beneficial to employees in terms of their long‐term impact.
Practical implications
Provides recommendations for small to mid‐sized nonprofit executive directors about ways to fund leadership development initiatives.
Originality/value
Offers nonprofit executive directors with suggestions about not investing in leadership development initiatives.
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James C. Sarros, Brian K. Cooper and Anne M. Hartican
The purpose of this paper is to examine self‐assessed character among Australian managers in relation to selected demographic variables of these managers, and to establish the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine self‐assessed character among Australian managers in relation to selected demographic variables of these managers, and to establish the initial psychometric properties of the Virtuous Leadership Scale used to measure dimensions of character.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected through a national online survey of managers utilizing the membership base of the Australian Institute of Management.
Findings
The findings reveal that self‐assessed character is multifaceted and varies across specific demographics (gender, age, level of seniority, years as an executive), and is subject to some degree of social desirability bias. Further research is warranted to explore these outcomes and relationships.
Research limitations/implications
The study is limited by national culture and management self‐report data that need verification across different national cultures, work settings, and work groups. The findings indicate that integrity is a key character attribute reported by managers, but the present results require further validation across industry sectors and other organizational contexts.
Practical implications
The findings suggest the need for further examination of character as an important component of leadership success, strategy, and impact.
Originality/value
The study identifies attributes of character linked to selected demographic (personal and professional) variables of practising managers, and points the way for further examination of the part character has to play in the leadership of organizations.
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Gil Bozer, James C. Sarros and Joseph C Santora
This paper aims to offer a theoretical foundation for a testable framework of executive coaching effectiveness and to share key findings from the research study in executive…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to offer a theoretical foundation for a testable framework of executive coaching effectiveness and to share key findings from the research study in executive coaching effectiveness based on the theoretical framework.
Design/methodology/approach
This article draws on the results from a quasi-experimental field study of four firms whose primary professional services focused on executive coaching.
Findings
Practical implications and learning lessons for the three constituents: the coachee, the coach and the organization.
Originality/value
The research can assist individuals and organizations in making informed decisions about designing, implementing and measuring executive coaching programs, thus building the profession of coaching.
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James C. Sarros, Robert J. Willis and Gill Palmer
To explore the nature (component parts, degree structure) and purpose (intended outcomes) of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree, identifying the strengths and…
Abstract
Purpose
To explore the nature (component parts, degree structure) and purpose (intended outcomes) of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the degree as they stand presently, using Australian experience.
Design/methodology/approach
A review of DBA programme offerings in Australia identified commonalities and differences in these offerings, and provided information necessary to propose strategic and theoretical implications of DBA education.
Findings
The paper demonstrates areas of confusion surrounding the purpose and nature of the DBA degree, especially as a research degree in comparison to the PhD. It concludes that quality controls are needed to ensure that this growing addition to management education adds to, and aids, the goal of strengthening management research, in ways that link theoretical insights with management practice.
Research limitations/implications
Theoretical and practical implications of the DBA degree are offered, as well as the extent to which the DBA addresses the educational needs of students and its benefits to the university.
Practical implications
The paper provides data useful to administrators interested in establishing a DBA degree in their institution, for researchers wishing to further explore and contribute to the discourse regarding the calibre and content of DBA degrees, and for students wishing to learn more about the fundamental differences between the PhD and the DBA.
Originality/value
This paper provides new information about the way the DBA degree is developing in an Australian context, and offers advice on issues that need attention in order to further ground the DBA in a combined research and practitioner ethic.
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Joseph C. Santora, Rosemary A. Clemens and James C. Sarros
Investigates the issue of succession planning and implementation for chief executive officers (CEOs) at philanthropic organizations. Provides a description, definition and…
Abstract
Investigates the issue of succession planning and implementation for chief executive officers (CEOs) at philanthropic organizations. Provides a description, definition and classification for philanthropic organizations: family, operating, community, and company‐sponsored. Selects four foundation CEOs representing some of the four types noted in the typology for research. Gives them the same case study to review, read, and respond to five questions targeted to the case study and to their foundation’s philosophy of succession planning. Discusses unique features and uncovers similar features and analyses reactions. Suggests that no foundation CEO interviewees had experience with succession planning or felt the choices in the study appropriate. Also identifies the need to study the process of grant awarding to uncover additional aspects related to understanding power, leadership, and influence in foundations’ policies for choosing leadership and transferring authority in a planned way.
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Gil Bozer, James C. Sarros and Joseph C. Santora
Little empirical research has examined the role of coach characteristics in coaching success. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap in the literature by identifying and…
Abstract
Purpose
Little empirical research has examined the role of coach characteristics in coaching success. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap in the literature by identifying and testing the relationships between a coach's academic background in psychology and credibility with executive coaching effectiveness as reflected in greater levels of individual outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
These factors were examined through a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design. Participants were drawn from the client bases of four Israeli executive coaching agencies.
Findings
A coach's academic background in psychology was positively related to executive coaching effectiveness as reflected in greater improvement in coachee self-awareness and job performance as reported by the direct supervisor. Further, coach credibility was positively related to executive coaching effectiveness as reflected in higher mean scores in coachee self-reported job performance.
Originality/value
Findings should assist businesses and educators in improving the formal preparation of coaches and in better identifying and selecting competent coaches. This may lead to better executive coaching design, implementation, and outcomes. Recommendations for future research are provided.
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Adela J. McMurray, Mazharul Islam, James C. Sarros and Andrew Pirola‐Merlo
The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the impact of leadership on workgroup climate and performance in a religious/church‐based non‐profit organization.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the impact of leadership on workgroup climate and performance in a religious/church‐based non‐profit organization.
Design/methodology/approach
The impact of leadership is investigated using a questionnaire comprised of established scales such as the transformational leadership scales (TLS), team climate inventory questionnaire (TCI), team effectiveness, workgroup cohesion, and interdependence scales. This is a context based study that considers the unique culture comprised of social, political, economic, technologic, personnel, and personal concerns. Descriptive, correlation, hierarchical regression, and SPSS macro developed by Preacher and Hayes were used as statistical techniques to assess the indirect effects (Sobel Tests) of variables.
Findings
Transformational leadership was identified as a key variable for the functioning of workgroup performance whilst transactional leadership was identified as a key influencing factor of workgroup climate. In addition, the study found a significant and positive large effect of workgroup climate on workgroup performance whilst both transformational and transactional leadership did not influence workgroup performance through workgroup climate. This finding provides areas in need of further research.
Research limitations/implications
There is likely to be posing risks of method variance or response biases as all data were drawn from employee surveys. There is also likely to be selection bias as the authors could not directly compare respondents with non‐respondents. The fact that there may be operational differences in other as well as smaller organizations, based on the limited size and the ability to allocate job functions, could limit the generalization of this result to other organizations.
Originality/value
This study makes a significant contribution to both scholarly theory and workplace practice in the non‐profit sector as the findings indicated that the influence of workgroup climate on workgroup performance provided an enabling context for the delivery of leadership in a religious/church‐based non‐profit organization.
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Joseph C. Santora and James C. Sarros
This paper focuses on the dismissal of two Australian managing directors/CEOs after a relatively short tenure in office. Despite the fact that one was an insider and the other was…
Abstract
This paper focuses on the dismissal of two Australian managing directors/CEOs after a relatively short tenure in office. Despite the fact that one was an insider and the other was an outsider, they were both selected to lead two of the largest corporations in Australia. Power and political influence played a vital role in their dismissal. Both CEOs attempted to take charge of their organizations, but failed to take the power and influence of the board into account. Implications and recommendations for executives are outcomes of the paper.
Joseph C. Santora and James C. Sarros
The purpose of this article is to provide executives and other organizational leaders with a six‐stage organizational life cycle and its components at each stage.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to provide executives and other organizational leaders with a six‐stage organizational life cycle and its components at each stage.
Design/methodology/approach
This article uses the case study method to show the impact of the organizational life cycle on the founder of a nonprofit organization who over time lost the drive and desire to remain competitive.
Findings
Founders and organizational leaders who fail to understand the consequences of not remaining vigilant will cause their organizations to suffer the consequences.
Practical implications
Leaders will learn about the issues associated with an organization's life cycle, and will be shown strategies that can be implemented in order to deal with these issues.
Originality/value
This article informs leaders about the importance of learning the steps in the organizational life cycle to help them avoid failure.
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Julie‐Anne Sheppard, James C. Sarros and Joseph C. Santora
The aim of this paper is to identify the core issues that organisational leaders are facing internationally, as a result of a globalised and rapidly changing international…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to identify the core issues that organisational leaders are facing internationally, as a result of a globalised and rapidly changing international economic environment. Appropriate leadership competencies and skills that enable organisational leaders to effectively deal with these core globalisation issues are examined in detail and are further explained through a conceptual model developed for the purpose of this study.
Design/methodology/approach
Conventional content analysis of extant literature in the leadership, management, organisational development and human resource management fields delimited this study to the identification of three core issues, their sub‐dimensions and associated organisational leadership effectiveness strategies.
Findings
This study presents a conceptual model consolidating current scholarly understanding of the international imperatives affecting twenty‐first century organisational leaders and describes “best practice” leadership skills, competencies and models that will enable managers to lead effectively in a rapidly changing, globalised market‐place.
Originality/value
The simplicity and explicitness of the descriptive‐based conceptual model represented in this review offers an original approach to the link between theory and practice in international organisational leadership, while acting to simplify the perplexing array of viewpoints on leadership approaches. A number of research alternatives are suggested that may lead to the formation of a more predictive “international imperative” model.
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