Date of Award

3-15-2001

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Leadership (MAL)

Department

Leadership

First Advisor

Larry Crockett

Second Advisor

Diane Pike

Third Advisor

Steve Fahrenholtz

Abstract

Conventional wisdom states vision is a requirement of husiness leadership, but the husiness community suffers from confusion and inconsistent application of the concept. A critical analysis of the concept reveals its popularity is based on rhetoric rather than a clear conceptualization of the term. (The term's literal meaning is the "experience of seeing God".) Without an academically useful definition, "vision" collapses under the weight of disparate and conflicting ideas. This thesis proposes that the problems with "vision" may be resolved by discarding the term completely and then separating the structure and function of leadership from the behavior of leaders and followers. A "vision-free" model of business leadership is presented that defines leadership in clearer terms, without the inherent problems associated with "vision."

Identifier

SC 11.MAL.2001.Dowd.CA

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