Understanding organizational culture to transform a workplace behavior: Evidence from a liberal arts University

Nelson and Quick (2013) describe organizational cultures as “a pattern of basic assumptions that are considered valid and that are taught to new members as a way to perceive, think and feel in the organization” (p.592). Organizational cultures are a vital part of any company’s environment and provide employees with the necessary tools to integrate themselves into the overall organizational dynamic; however, most organizational cultures are plagued with dysfunctional dynamics that have stemmed from a dysfunctional personality of a key leader in their environment. This paper is based on the experience of designing and delivering special change, the organizational culture has been, for the most part, healthy and thriving. In this paper, we will review some of the problems facing the University and how key organizational leaders have successfully influenced change in a manner that has led to the valuable organizational culture in place today.

Download Full-text

Faculty Perceptions of Online Teaching at a Mid-Sized Liberal Arts University

Online Learning ◽

10.24059/olj.v24i3.2199 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Dana L Shreaves ◽

Yu-Hui Ching ◽

Lida Uribe-Florez ◽

Jesús Trespalacios

Keyword(s):

Online Learning ◽

Liberal Arts ◽

Online Teaching ◽

Online Courses ◽

Faculty Perceptions ◽

Future Research ◽

Liberal Arts University ◽

Online Study ◽

Data Content ◽

The University

This mixed-methods study examined faculty perceptions of online teaching at a mid-sized liberal arts university in order to understand faculty acceptance and participation in online teaching at the university. Seventy-nine participants responded to a survey that collected qualitative and quantitative data. Content analysis examined faculty perceptions of online teaching and identified six themes. An examination of 21 quantitative factors identified 17 factors reported by more than 50% of respondents to influence their decision to teach or not teach online. Study participants perceived online learning as attractive to students but they wanted any online courses carefully regulated, in part because online learning was seen as contrary to their teaching values. Participants were influenced by personal preferences but also the desire for robust faculty resources, and more effective technology and infrastructure. Implications and directions for future research were discussed.

Download Full-text

Awareness of Open Access Issues Differs among Faculty at Institutions of Different Sizes

Evidence Based Library and Information Practice ◽

10.18438/b8j02g ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 76 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kathleen Reed

Keyword(s):

Open Access ◽

Liberal Arts ◽

Online Survey ◽

Faculty Members ◽

Liberal Arts University ◽

University Of Wisconsin ◽

Definition Of ◽

Promotion Process ◽

The University

A Review of: Kocken, G. J. & Wical, S. H. (2013). “I’ve never heard of it before”: Awareness of open access at a small liberal arts university. Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian, 32(3), 140-154. http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1080/01639269.2013.817876 Abstract Objective – This study surveyed faculty awareness of open access (OA) issues and the institutional repository (IR) at the University of Wisconsin. The authors hoped to use findings to inform future IR marketing strategies to faculty. Design – Survey. Setting – University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, a small, regional public university (approximately 10,000 students). Subjects – 105 faculty members. Methods – The authors contacted 397 faculty members inviting them to participate in an 11 question online survey. Due to anonymity issues on a small campus, respondents were not asked about rank and discipline, and were asked to not provide identifying information. A definition of OA was not provided by the authors, as survey participants were queried about their own definition. Main Results – Approximately 30% of the faculty were aware of OA issues. Of all the definitions of OA given by survey respondents, “none . . . came close” to the definition favoured by the authors (p. 145). More than 30% of the faculty were unable to define OA at a level deemed basic by the authors. A total of 51 (48.57%) of the survey respondents indicated that there are OA journals in their disciplines. Another 6 (5.71%) of the faculty members claimed that there are no OA journals in their disciplines, although most provided a definition of OA and several considered OA publishing to be “very important.” The remaining 48 participants (46%) were unsure if there are OA journals in their disciplines. Of these survey respondents, 38 answered that they have not published in an OA journal, 10 were unsure, and 21 believed that their field benefits or would benefit from OA journals. Survey respondents cited quality of the journal, prestige, and peer review as extremely important in selecting a journal in which to publish. Conclusion – The authors conclude that the level of awareness related to OA issues must be raised before IRs can flourish. They ponder how university and college administrators regard OA publishing, and the influence this has on the tenure and promotion process.

Download Full-text

Strategically Comparing Selected Major College Basketball Powerhouses Through The Resource Based View Of The Firm

Journal of Business & Economics Research (JBER) ◽

10.19030/jber.v4i4.2657 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

Author(s):

David P. Synowka ◽

Alan D. Smith ◽

Dean R. Manna

Keyword(s):

Organizational Culture ◽

Competitive Advantage ◽

Sport Management ◽

Intangible Assets ◽

National Level ◽

Organizational Cultures ◽

Sustainable Competitive Advantage ◽

Resource Based View ◽

Strategic Assets ◽

The University

The key to sustaining a competitive advantage through effective management is working with people.  Especially dealing with sport management and marketing, concepts such as organizational culture and reputation are identifying strategic assets that are intangible resources.  These concepts form the basis on the strategic theory behind the Resource-based View (RBV) of the firm.  Strategic assets are intangible since they are inherently hard to duplicate, since duplication requires the inputs of how an object reacts with all the senses.  Intangible assets are, by their very nature, ‘unknowable’ in the purest sense and, thus, difficult to duplicate.  In addition, intangible assets are rare in that the variations that will be found within will be profound from owner to owner.  The organizational cultures and reputations of the Duke University and the University of Cincinnati were compared, since they have petitions for national level basketball, but radically different organizational cultures.  What constitutes organizational culture in one organization will have differences not present in another’s culture, thus allowing for some teams to maintain a sustainable competitive advantage.

Download Full-text

Virtual induction ceremonies: Upholding time-honored tradition

Journal of Nursing Education and Practice ◽

10.5430/jnep.v10n5p77 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 77

Author(s):

Emily E. Hopkins ◽

Kathleen C. Spadaro

Keyword(s):

Online Education ◽

Liberal Arts ◽

Education Programs ◽

New Members ◽

Liberal Arts University ◽

The Past ◽

Southwestern Pennsylvania ◽

Honor Societies ◽

Website Use ◽

Honor Society

An induction ceremony is a time-honored tradition among honor societies. Designed to recognize new members and denote transition into the society, induction signifies an important step in formal membership. However, with the growth of online education programs, there is a need for honor societies to adapt from traditional on-ground communities to virtual ones. This adaptation includes conducting an induction ceremony virtually to further create a sense of membership belonging and value. Recognizing the importance of upholding a time-honored tradition, a small private liberal arts university in Southwestern Pennsylvania sought to digitally record their international honor society chapter induction ceremony and share it with their distance inductees via their chapter website. Use of the virtual induction began prior to becoming an international chapter and has continued annually for the past 10 years. Therefore, this experience exchange shares strategies for planning and conducting a successful virtual induction ceremony, thus emphasizing the importance of membership induction for all students especially those online.

Download Full-text

Applying Anthropology to Develop University-Affiliated Childcare Centers

Practicing Anthropology ◽

10.17730/praa.37.1.m31885ph34754l71 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 46-49

Author(s):

Ruth Jolie

Keyword(s):

Social Theory ◽

Liberal Arts ◽

Applied Anthropology ◽

Academic Education ◽

Academic Institutions ◽

Childcare Centers ◽

Liberal Arts University ◽

The World ◽

The University

I often tell my students that, for me, I have the best job in the world: I get to teach, which allows me to interact with bright, inquisitive minds, and discuss the most fascinating subject in the world—people! While I work at a small (approximately 3,000 students) Catholic-affiliated liberal arts university that emphasizes teaching, I also spend a portion of my time doing service for the university. Increasingly, I find myself practicing applied anthropology at the same time. Training in ethnographic methods and a grounding in social theory are precisely what makes anthropologists incredibly useful in academic education, beyond the classroom. In this article, I provide a case study illustrating the importance of applying anthropology in the service of academic institutions. In this case, I found myself as an advocate for colleagues while setting up two university-affiliated childcare facilities. Although this case study may provide a blueprint for others interested in setting up affiliations at similar institutions, I also hope that it demonstrates the possibilities for applying anthropology at work where the stakeholders include one's colleagues.

Download Full-text

Persistence at a Liberal Arts University and Participation in a Study-Abroad Program

Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad ◽

10.36366/frontiers.v15i1.221 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 93-110 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Denise Young

Keyword(s):

Study Abroad ◽

Liberal Arts ◽

Liberal Arts University ◽

The University ◽

Study Abroad Program

This article presents a study that explores the association between persistence at the University of Dallas, a private liberal arts university, and participation in a study abroad program. Students who participated in the study abroad program at the University of Dallas spent one semester (typically during the sophomore year) at the Rome campus of the university.

Download Full-text

HABITUAL ACTION DALAM KEPEMIMPINAN SPIRITUAL

KOMUNIKA Jurnal Dakwah dan Komunikasi ◽

10.24090/komunika.v7i1.371 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Abdul Basit

Keyword(s):

Organizational Culture ◽

Spiritual Leadership ◽

Academic Community ◽

Spiritual Values ◽

Leadership Model ◽

Leadership Crisis ◽

National Leaders ◽

Deep Meaning ◽

The University ◽

Strategic Policies

Toward leadership crisis that crashed the nation of Indonesia, one of thefactors contributors come from universities, concerning Higher Education is anursery area of society and the national leaders. To overcome the crisis, it needed torepair the leadership models that are able to change and improve social and nationallife. The mandate of the university is shaping and sharpening thinking of thelecturers, students, and alumni to always siding, thinking and acting for the benefitand improvement of the surrounding communities. One alternative models ofleadership that are relevant to college is spiritual leadership.Spiritual leadership has been tested and researched by Louis W. Fry ( 2003)along with the comrades in the context of different organizations and the resultsshow the possibility of the application of this theoretical model for various types oforganizations. According to Fry spiritual leadership is the incorporation of thenecessary values, attitudes and behaviors to motivate intrinsically oneselves andothers to be such a way so that they have a sense of spiritual defense through the callof duty and membership.Spiritual leadership model is studied by the author in STAIN Purwokerto, asIslamic educational institutions which incidentally has been practicing spiritualvalues in their environment. The study was conducted using qualitative research andcase study approach.Spiritual leadership in STAIN Purwokerto is constructed based on threeimportant things: First, the existence of spiritual values that were held by leaders andserve as an ideology or belief to motivate himself and others. Spiritual values arevalues such are togetherness, belief or determination, and obeying the rules. Second,building tradition of spiritual leadership that is reflected in the actions taken byleaders in achieving the vision to be achieved by STAIN Purwokerto. The habitualprocess is done by sticking to spiritual values carried. Then it is implemented byissuing flagship programs supported by strategic policies carried out intensively sothat it becomes a regular agenda of the academic community and staff as well as toproduce a healthy organizational culture and quality. Third, organizational culture isfostered by building a dynamic atmosphere, full of family-like-feeling, cooperation,open and respectful in terms of spiritual, intellectual and professional. The efforts aremade from simple things and daily life by providing deep meaning so that it can beused as a driver towards the direction of progress .

Download Full-text

A program evaluation of a proactive faculty and peer advising program for first-year, open-enrolled students in the College of Arts and Sciences at a mid-western liberal arts university

10.31274/rtd-180813-9776 ◽

1994 ◽

Author(s):

Stephen Everett Buckley

Keyword(s):

Program Evaluation ◽

Liberal Arts ◽

First Year ◽

Liberal Arts University ◽

Arts And Sciences ◽

Peer Advising

Download Full-text

How Do Public Service Professionals Behave in Risky Situations? The Importance of Organizational Culture

The American Review of Public Administration ◽

10.1177/02750740211010348 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 027507402110103

Author(s):

Emily Rose Tangsgaard

Keyword(s):

Organizational Culture ◽

Risk Perception ◽

Public Service ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Organizational Cultures ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Subsequent Behavior ◽

Hospital Wards

Many situations in public service delivery are characterized by uncertainty about the potential negative consequences following decisions. These risky situations make the behavior of frontline professionals particularly important. But what shapes the risk perception and subsequent behavior of frontline professionals in risky situations? This article explores the idea that organizational culture provides part of the answer. To examine this, a comprehensive qualitative study with participant observations and interviews at five public hospital wards was conducted. The findings demonstrate the importance of organizational culture on risk perception and behavior in risky situations. Basic cultural assumptions related to professional discussion, administering medicine, grading of adverse events, and prioritizing follow-up activities matter to behavior in risky situations. In organizational cultures with high levels of trust and dialogue about decision-making, the health professionals rely on each other and ask for second opinions, when making decisions in risky situations. Conversely, in organizational cultures with little trust and professional discussion, the health professionals are less likely to ask for second opinions and follow up on risky situations, which increases the possibility of unintended, negative consequences. In this way, organizational culture can be a driver of risk-reducing and risk-seeking behavior among frontline professionals.

Download Full-text

Critical Thinking and Clear Writing

News for Teachers of Political Science ◽

10.1017/s019790190000177x ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 46 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Anne F. Lee

Keyword(s):

Critical Thinking ◽

Political Science ◽

Liberal Arts ◽

Writing Proficiency ◽

Science Students ◽

Writing Class ◽

Voluntary Commitment ◽

The University

As part of an on-going effort at West Oahu College (a small, liberal arts, upper-division campus of the University of Hawaii) I am experimenting with ways to help my political science students improve their ability to think critically and communicate clearly. For some time we have been aware of a large number of students having difficulties in writing and critical thinking. We have made an informal and voluntary commitment to use writing-across-thecurriculum (WAC) with faculty participating in workshops and conferring with the writing instructor who coordinates our WAC program.1In-coming students must now produce a writing proficiency sample which is analyzed, returned with numerous comments, and results in students being urged to take a writing class if there are serious problems. A writing lab is offered several times a week and students are free to drop in for help.

Download Full-text