The interaction between servant leadership and organizational culture: an NCAA Division III case study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Dahlin ◽  
Pete Schroeder
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Servant Leadership ◽  
Intercollegiate Athletics ◽  
Leadership Behaviors ◽  
Ncaa Division Iii ◽  
Head Coach ◽  
Division Iii ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Team Culture

PurposeServant leadership is primarily focused on the empowerment and moral development of followers (Burton et al., 2017). Within sports research, little is known about how servant leadership interacts with organizational culture in teams. Thus, the purpose of this study is to assess the servant leadership of one head baseball coach and examine the degree to which servant leadership affects the program's culture.Design/methodology/approachData were collected for this case study of an NCAA Division III head baseball coach throughout one academic year. Sources included 12 interviews (ranging from four minutes to 92 min), observation of practices and games, textual analysis of documents and websites, as well as the coach's reflection journal. Data were analyzed using a six-phase process of thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006).FindingsThe participant exhibited the following servant leadership behaviors: empowering, helping subordinates grow and succeed, behaving ethically, and conceptual skills (Liden et al., 2015, 2008). In addition, the program maintained a culture featuring a few distinct artifacts, very clear espoused values, and three deeply held basic assumptions. The findings suggest that the head coach used servant leadership not to create or change culture but instead to amplify the existing culture of the baseball program.Originality/valueThere is strong evidence of a link between servant leadership and team culture, which is context-bound. At the Division III level, servant leadership behaviors can be used to embody a program's culture. Furthermore, through this embodiment, servant leaders can perpetuate an effective, functioning team culture, particularly within intercollegiate athletics.

How culture, leadership and engagement helped a small business survive during the pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
John F. Blattner ◽  
William P. Karmia ◽  
Thomas J. Walter
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Value Systems ◽  
Workplace Culture ◽  
Organizational Survival ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Company Culture ◽  
Organizational Culture Inventory ◽  
Business Challenges

Purpose The purpose of this case study is to investigate how a small catering company has coped with the current Covid-19 pandemic. Initial research was performed in 2014 and repeated in 2018. Given the far reaching business challenges of the pandemic, the authors examined the viability of the organization within the current climate. Design/methodology/approach Embedded organizational components of culture, leadership and engagement are explored as key elements in the sustainability of the company during the pandemic crisis. Prior research data using the organizational culture inventory is used to assess organizational culture over a four-year period. Employee data and interview analysis within company structure is used to determine how leadership and employee engagement is impacted. Culture research is examined to determine the influence of company culture upon organizational survival. Findings This paper identifies workplace culture elements that contribute to company sustainability. Embedded core value systems, strong employee engagement mechanisms and focused leadership styles were observed to be critical influences upon company survival during the pandemic. Originality/value This research would assist industry professionals and practitioners in understanding the active workplace culture mechanisms found to be effective for organizational survival during periods of crisis. Companies that adopt similar practices may acquire sustainability advantage during the pandemic.

The effect of servant leadership on rewards, organizational culture and its implication for employee’s performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 505-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahat Sihombing ◽  
Endang Siti Astuti ◽  
Mochammad Al Musadieq ◽  
Djamhur Hamied ◽  
Kusdi Rahardjo
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Servant Leadership ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Employee Performance ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leadership Attributes

Purpose This paper aims to examine factors that affect employee performance at Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN). Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research approach was used with generalized structure component analysis (GSCA) as the analysis tool. This study was specific to Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi) areas, considering that 60 per cent of employees of BTN, who were also the study population, resided in the Jabodetabek areas. This study was conducted for a month in 2016. By using the representative sample, the results could be generalized. Findings The results of the analysis suggested that the structural model showed that the servant leadership (X1) significantly affected rewards (Y1) and organizational culture (Y2), but it had no significant effect on employee performance (Y3). Other results showed that there was a significant effect of rewards (Y1) on organizational culture (Y2) and employee performance (Y3), and that there was a significant effect of organizational culture (Y2) on employee performance (Y3). Originality/value Russell and Stone (2002) studied the servant leadership in a review of servant leadership attributes, and McCann et al. (2014) studied servant leadership, employee satisfaction and organizational performance in rural community hospitals. Thereby, the originality of this paper is shown on servant leadership variable for relationship between rewards, organizational culture and employee’s performance. The method used is GSCA and the location of this research is at BTN throughout Indonesia, where there are no previous research studies that have discussed the same topic on these locations.

The emergence of servant leadership and its effectiveness in bureaucratic organizations

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1235-1249
Author(s):  
Jungin Kim
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Servant Leadership ◽  
Organizational Structure ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Hierarchical Linear Modeling ◽  
Social Exchange Theory ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Linear Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bureaucratic Organizations

PurposeBy following the leadership theory, social exchange theory and social learning theory, we aimed to examine the conditions under which servant leadership (SL) develops in bureaucratic organizations and explore its influences on organizational culture and member behavior.Design/methodology/approachBased on a survey of the South Korean Army, this study conducted the hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analysis to investigate the research model.FindingsWe found that SL was positively associated with formalized organizational structure and negatively associated with centralized organizational structure. Additionally, SL created a relation-oriented organizational culture (ROOC) and significantly enhanced battalion members' organizational commitment (OC). Furthermore, ROOC significantly mediated the relationship between SL and OC.Originality/valueThese results suggest that SL could emerge in both formalized and decentralized bureaucratic organizations. Moreover, SL appears to create an organizational culture that promotes collaboration, and such a ROOC seems to mediate the positive influence of SL on followers' OC.

Breaking through barriers: the impact of organizational culture on open government reform

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erna H.J.M. Ruijer ◽  
Richard F. Huff
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Open Government ◽  
Government Reform ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Practice Gap ◽  
Government Reforms ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of organizational culture on open government reforms by developing a theoretical framework bridging the theory and practice gap. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory qualitative study consisting of a document analysis and a case study was conducted. Findings An open organizational culture is a precursor to effective open government. A network strategy as a facilitator for developing an open culture was used in one US federal agency, breaking across boundaries within the organization, creating greater symmetrical horizontal and vertical openness. Originality/value Much of the focus in both theory and practice has been on the use of technology as a vehicle to increase government openness. This study argues that a movement toward openness is beyond the technical. Organizational culture is a key to openness and may need to be changed. A networks strategy may be one way to facilitate a transformation to a more open culture.

The promoters and the barriers for organizational culture change in a Finnish construction company

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 672-688
Author(s):  
Ville Juhani Teräväinen ◽  
Juha-Matti Junnonen
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Culture Change ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Company ◽  
Organizational Culture Change

Purpose The construction industry has struggled with efficiency issues for decades. Organizational culture is identified as one of the biggest hindrances for the enhancement of efficiency in a highly labor-intensive sector such as construction. Based on recent academic studies, Finnish construction industry professionals would embrace clan and adhocracy culture features to achieve a better level of construction efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the promoters and the barriers for making the desired culture change happen in the case company. Design/methodology/approach The paper presents a semi-structured theme interview case study, including 12 in-depth interviews. The interviews were recorded, and later, transcribed into text, which forms the empirical data of this paper. Findings The Finnish construction industry must adopt a holistic approach to enhance its prevailing level of efficiency through the culture change. Basic learning and knowledge management processes seem to be missing from the industry and organizational levels. Better knowledge management in the case company would be the first step to start fixing this problem. Research limitations/implications Because of the nature of a case study, the research results can be generalized only with caution in the Finnish construction industry. Generalizing the findings in another country would require further studies in a different cultural environment, e.g. in another European country. Practical implications The paper includes implications for the development of the organizational culture on the Finnish construction industry level and on an organizational level. Originality/value The found influencers are discussed through Engeström’s activity model for the first time in the construction culture context.

Personality traits and personal values of servant leaders

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-192
Author(s):  
Peter Sun ◽  
Sudong Shang
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Servant Leadership ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Leadership Behaviors ◽  
Personal Values ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Servant Leaders ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Direct Reports

Purpose Servant leaders focus on their direct reports to enable them to grow to be independent and autonomous leaders. The purpose of this paper is to understand the way personal values and personality traits collectively influence this other-centered behavior. This will go a long way to unravel this unique style of leadership. Design/methodology/approach The study surveys managers and their direct reports. Leaders rated their personality trait and personal values, while their direct reports rated the leader’s servant leadership behaviors. Age, educational level, conscientiousness, extraversion and neuroticism of leaders were used as controls. The study also checked for endogeneity threats. Findings Using a sample of 81 leaders and 279 of their direct reports, the study finds that the personal value of benevolent dependability relates negatively to servant leadership behaviors. In addition, the personality traits of agreeableness and openness/intellect moderate the relationship between benevolent dependability and servant leadership behaviors. Research limitations/implications The findings shed important insights into what motivates servant leaders to engage in other-directed behaviors, thereby enabling future research into individual characteristics that define servant leaders. Originality/value Although studies have examined how values and personality traits influence leadership behaviors, no research has examined both types of individual differences in a single study. Studies examining the individual differences of servant leaders are few, and this study answers the call by Liden et al. (2014) to examine individual characteristics that are both personality based (traits) and malleable (values).

Cloud computing and ERP assimilation in the public sector: institutional perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nizar Mohammad Alsharari
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Computing ◽  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Institutional Logics ◽  
Institutional Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Erp System ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Government

Purpose This study aims to explore the influence of contingent factors on the assimilation of the cloud enterprises resources plan (ERP) system in the UAE’s public sector. It explains the relationship between institutional logics and institutional work while implementing ERP-based cloud computing (CC) to transform the government. Design/methodology/approach This study uses qualitative methods and an interpretive approach to provide an in-depth explanation for a detailed case study in the public sector. The institutional logics framework has been used to inform the integration between ERP system and CC in the public sector case. Findings Findings show that the UAE public sector could align institutional work processes with the inbuilt logics of ERP-based CC, resulting in successful assimilation of the cloud version. This study concludes that institutional pressures in highly institutionalized environments will generate organizational responses, but those responses are dependent upon and influenced by aspects of organizational culture. This study found that the organizational culture has led to a radical change by implementing the cloud ERP system and institutionalizing its usage toward transforming government. Moreover, ERP assimilation is the extent to which an organization has developed from understanding the ERP system’s functionalities to mastering and deploying them in their processes. Research limitations/implications This study has important implications and contributions to the literature in three ways. First, this study examines an understudied topic, the interaction between CC and institutional logics. Second, this study contributes to the public sector research by providing a fine-tuned interpretation of the organization’s strategic behavior in response to a new information technology (IT) trend. Finally, this study also focuses on this new trend of CC which can influence the global IT industry, and it is worthy of being considered. Originality/value Explanatory case study research has a value to the public sector that one might be discovering new phenomena while analyzing the public sector case. The implementation of cloud ERP is one of the best methods of integrating technology with the public sector’s organizational, technical, economic, social, cultural and other environmental domains.

What every leader ought to know about becoming a servant leader

2015 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 228-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Mertel ◽  
Carol Brill
Keyword(s):  
Servant Leadership ◽  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Leadership Behaviors ◽  
Employee Performance ◽  
Competency Assessment ◽  
Emotional Needs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leadership Attributes ◽  
A Value ◽  
Values Assessment

Purpose – Employees want to be supported to do their best work, but not every leader is comfortable or motivated to serve an employee’s “soft, emotional” needs. One key to help leaders become servant leaders is connecting serving others to their own values (even if “serving others” is not a value). Two assessments provided the framework for understanding this link between servant leadership attributes and the leader’s values. A case study demonstrates this link within a healthcare system where these tools helped develop servant leadership skills to support employee performance. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The authors used a servant leadership competency assessment and values assessment with leaders in a healthcare organization. By citing several leadership experts, and explaining how values relate to servant leadership behaviors, the authors offer a way to help leaders understand that anyone can improve their success with servant leadership. Findings – By offering two case studies of anonymous yet actual participants in the study the authors show how leaders gained insights they needed to change their habits in working with others. Research limitations/implications – The research results are from two distinct assessments. Researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further with other similar assessments. Practical implications – The paper includes implications for the development of a leader’s servant leadership behaviors, which in turn supports employee engagement and organizational success. Social implications – In today’s age of mass technology, it has become a unique proposition to relate to others on the basis of serving their needs by relating to their values one-on-one. This paper inherently promotes in-person conversation with “soft” skills such as, listening, empathy, appreciation, and kindness. Originality/value – This paper fulfills an identified need to study how servant leadership behaviors can be improved by using a second tool focused on values.

Rehearsing tomorrow's leaders: the potential of mythodrama

2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 138-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Olivier ◽  
Julie Verity
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Behaviors ◽  
Henry V ◽  
Personal Traits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Learning Intervention ◽  
Effective Leaders ◽  
Future Value ◽  
Self Knowledge ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe paper explores the potential of Mythodrama as a leadership learning intervention. It suggests that the new leadership capabilities required for future organizational success, can be built with this methodology.Design/methodology/approachHenry V – Shakespeare's greatest inspirational leader – is used as case study to explain the Mythodrama methodology and some of the lessons that can be learnt about leadership from Henry's story.FindingsMythodrama is a powerful intervention for learning and rehearsing leadership behaviors. Great leaders have a repertoire of styles and demonstrate judgment about which style is relevant to the context. Authentic leadership requires self‐knowledge, belief and commitment, there is the potential to explore these personal traits through the mythodrama methodology.Practical implicationsEffective leaders are increasingly recognized as one of the most valuable assets of the organization. Hence, truly transforming learning methodologies – those that can touch people personally and deeply – promise to add future value to organizations that employ them.Originality/valueIntroduces and explores the potential of a leadership learning intervention. Explains how the methodology works and describes some of the skills and behaviors leaders can rehearse.

The role of servant leadership in fostering inclusive organizations

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 985-1010 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Gotsis ◽  
Katerina Grimani
Keyword(s):  
Servant Leadership ◽  
Leadership Behaviors ◽  
Organizational Practices ◽  
Servant Leaders ◽  
Inclusive Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Integrative Framework ◽  
Mediating Mechanisms ◽  
Indirect Relationship ◽  
Societal Expectations

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an integrative framework of servant leadership and employees’ perception of inclusion. The authors argue that servant leadership embodies an inclusive leadership philosophy that is in a position to facilitate feelings of belongingness and uniqueness among diverse employees. Design/methodology/approach A theoretical model capturing the effect of servant leadership in shaping climates for inclusion, is developed. The authors elaborate on research streams focussing on climates for inclusion, and examine servant leadership as a potential predictor of inclusion. In this respect, the authors posit that inclusive practices mediate the servant leadership and inclusion relationship, while leaders’ inclusiveness beliefs moderate the servant leadership and inclusive practices relationship. Findings The model introduces mediating mechanisms that intervene in the indirect relationship between servant leadership and climates for inclusion. In so doing, the authors seek to identify how organizational practices supported through servant leadership behaviors address employee needs for belongingness and uniqueness. The model predicts multi-level beneficial outcomes for social identity groups. Practical implications The paper identifies a bundle of organizational practices facilitating employees’ perceptions of inclusion, by placing an emphasis on how servant leaders can enact and implement practices in view of attaining inclusiveness pursuits. Social implications Servant leadership is inclusive by empowering diverse employees and fostering equitable and more humane workplaces, as well as by being more sensitive to various societal expectations. Originality/value The paper is intended to explore precisely how servant leadership can help inclusive ideals to thrive in diverse work environments.

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