Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics Theses
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Publication Positive Organizational Dynamics: A Reflective Journey Through Organizational Design, Culture and The Individual Experience(2022) Caroline M. FloodThis capstone is a portfolio review of the author’s study of organizational dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania. It is a practical guide for business professionals to reflect on how to achieve positive organizational dynamics, as well as a conversational journey examining the relationship between dynamics and organizational design, culture, and the individual experience. The work provides insight into leading theories, models, and research on organizational dynamics, which are brought to life through the author’s personal application and reflection. The capstone articulates the complexity involved in defining organizational dynamics and reinforces the importance of examining dynamics at the individual level. The author concludes that achieving positive organizational dynamics is possible through a continuous personal reflective process.Publication Eye of the Beholder: Examining Performance-Inhibiting Thoughts of Artists Through The Lens Of Leadership Coaching(2023-08-01) Banks, Anthony L.If a coach subscribes to artist stereotypes and/or preconceived notions about artists, the coach may not fully and accurately perceive artists as they are during coaching sessions. Not all creatives suffer from the angst of being a starving artist. What are some of the artists' actual concerns? And how can Leadership Coaches help artists lead their way on their creative paths? This capstone is an investigation of some of the performance-inhibiting thoughts of artists examined through the perspective of leadership coaching. This capstone is intended to provide practical information for coaches who have, or intend to have, clients who are artists and creatives. The information is applicable regardless of their client’s art form. This study includes interviews with artists to examine the varying viewpoints of different artists and their experiences. With this in mind, each of them were asked the same set of seven questions. Scenarios were created of how a Leadership Coach can help and guide artists to new levels of awareness of their cognitive distortions. Among the findings is that the coaching emphasis for artists should not be what society says they should want or aspire to, but what the individual artists want and aspires to, according to the standards they themselves set. The artists surveyed in this study expressed that a Leadership Coach and/or a good support system could help them by increasing their focus on priorities and increasing their confidence levels as artists.Publication Unlocking Agility: Building Learning Capabilities Within A Consumer Healthcare Organization(2020-06-01) Tang, YunqiPharmaceutical companies are increasingly infusing the concept of agility to strive for continuous improvement. Significant exploration and research have focused on more technical-driven departments, like Information Technology and Research and Development. However, there has been little research with the focus on more process-driven functions, like Learning and Organizational Development. This action research study presents a case study of the implementation of a new training solution within a consumer healthcare organization from the lens of the project leader. Building upon the case study, this capstone includes a review of existing research and literature of agility with a focus on the healthcare sector, change management, adult learning, and organizational learning. The overall goal of this study is to explore the value of agility in building learning capacities within the pharmaceutical industry. Looking forward, the aim is to provide insights on how agility can be developed to facilitate an organization’s transformation to become a learning organization.Publication Ask and You Might Receive: Gender Dynamics and Workplace Negotiations(2020-05-01) Adkins, Caitlin K MThis thesis explores negotiation processes for remuneration in the workplace. Drawing on a survey of 97 respondents and interviews with employees at a large private university on the East Coast of the United States, it analyzes the impact of gender on negotiation outcomes. It demonstrates that gender-based disparities persist, even when women enter into negotiation processes. The survey and interviews investigate six consequential aspects of workplace negotiation: (1) fear and assumptions in early career negotiations, (2) penalization and deviance, (3) the role of an advocate in the negotiation process, (4) generational differences in approaches to negotiation and in sharing information about remuneration, (5) drivers of negotiation, and (6) tactics and approaches to advance successful negotiation outcomes. In compiling shared experiences and identifying patterns in negotiation outcomes, constructive strategies for successful negotiation in the workplace are developed.Publication Leading Teams Through Productive Conflict Engagement(2020-05-30) Manek, Tirth V.A.Conflict is an inevitable part of organizational life. Depending on how leaders handle conflict, it is either an opportunity to improve work outcomes or a challenge that has negative effects on organizational productivity. Through a qualitative study on 14 leaders, this capstone explores strategies for helping teams engage in productive conflict. In the organizational behavior framework, conflict is often discussed in terms of resolution. Engaging in conflict shifts the focus on accepting its challenges without assuming that there is a need for resolution. This paper explores the dynamics of conflict through the participants’ personal reactions, past strategies, relationships within their workplace, and the organizational culture that they have experienced. The capstone benefits leaders, organizational development professionals and executive coaches who want to look at intervention strategies for teams and organizations dealing with the negative effects of conflict.Publication Professional Development For African American Women In Middle Management: Time For A New Curriculum?(2020-06-01) LeSure, Felicia RBlack women are the most educated demographic group in the U.S., however, they hold very few senior leadership positions within Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS). This capstone is an exploratory study using qualitative research to learn the professional development needs of Black women in middle management staff positions at RBHS. Data was collected using a Qualtrics survey of sixteen questions with sixteen confidential respondents from RBHS, and six personal interviews with recent graduates of the Staff Leadership Series at Ohio State University. The findings of this study reveal that Black women in middle management staff positions at RBHS are not receiving the professional development that they desire or need to advance their careers. Ohio State University has a Staff Leadership Series (SLS) for women that could be modeled at RBHS for Black women. This study provides valuable feedback on the success of the SLS from recent graduates and the professional development needs of Black women in middle management positions at RBHS.Publication The “Invisible” Chinese Employees: The Influential Factors Of Job Satisfaction Of Chinese Employees In The American Workplace(2020-05-01) Xu, XianThere are about 2.23 million Chinese workers employed in the American workplace. However, Chinese workers have received disproportionately less attention in the research of job satisfaction in the US. They should not be “invisible.” This capstone is a mixed-method research study that focuses on the influential factors of job satisfaction of Chinese employees in the American workplace, who are the first generation of Chinese immigrants originally coming from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan. Data was collected using a Qualtrics survey of fifteen questions and nine personal interviews with Chinese employees in various industries. The finding of this study reveals that Chinese employees generally have a higher satisfaction rate with their organization and organizational culture than non-Chinese employees. Chinese employees attach importance to career development in the workplace, but put less value on the leadership/management in the organization, compared to their non-Chinese peers. Also, more Chinese employees feel excluded in the American workplace than non-Chinese employees. This study provides valuable information for managers and organizations in motivating and including their Chinese immigrant employees.Publication Building A Winning NFL Roster: Best Practices For Sustained Success(2020-05-12) Stern, Jake HThe purpose of this capstone is to identify and analyze the factors that contribute to team success in the National Football League through a review of relevant literature, a survey of league personnel, and firsthand experience as a football administrator. This project first studies quantitative data regarding player acquisition, specifically the data behind the NFL entry draft. Next, the current literature regarding off the field processes such as leadership, organizational culture and engagement were reviewed and finally, a two-step Delphi method survey was distributed to a panel of current league professionals. This paper aims to find the most efficient and effective way for teams to acquire players and several ways to optimize that talent based on the best practices researched in organizational culture and leadership.Publication Embracing The Path: A Story Of Leadership, Transformation, And Adventure(2020-05-01) Davis, Zachary S.This capstone retells a journey of transformation through self-realization and personal development, made possible through the collective learning experiences and inspirations provided during my course of study in the Organizational Dynamics program at the University of Pennsylvania. The concepts are purposefully woven together in a story format to reinforce the importance of balance across multiple versions of self, highlighting personal development experiences, adventures, and the resultant growth as a person and leader. The paper focuses on topics of work-life balance and self-awareness in exploration of their usefulness in leader development, orchestrating change management initiatives, and improving overall effectiveness in organizations. This paper intentionally unfolds as an introspective narrative sharing reflections and applications of leadership techniques as a tool to foster a deeper connection between organizations and the people that thrive within them. This paper also seeks to serve as inspiration for others contemplating a journey of personal transformation.Publication Four Dimensions of Organizational Theory(2005-05-01) Scott, Martin VThis paper presents my responses to questions from four professors with whom I studied during my tenure in the Organizational Dynamics Master’s Degree Program at the University of Pennsylvania. The central theme of each question concerns organizational leadership, my academic concentration in the graduate program. Dr. William Wilkinsky presented a coaching and team-building scenario for which I had to create a model and plan to be used to coach the team presented in the question. Professor Stephen Dunning asked me to consider explanations for deviant behavior in business, government and terrorist organizations. Professor Eric van Merkenstiejn requested I present leadership lessons drawn from the past successes and present failings (as perceived by some) of Michael Eisner, CEO of the Walt Disney Company. The final question, from Dr. John Fielder, required a literature review and assessment of the major themes associated with styles of ethical leadership.