Date of Award

1995

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Leadership (MAL)

Department

Leadership

First Advisor

Mary Endorf

Abstract

The hierarchically structured Wisconsin lndianhead Technical College, New Richmond, Wisconsin, is considering implementing Total Quality Management/Continuous lmprovement Process (TQM/CIP) districtwide. The purpose of this study was to determine opinions held by faculty and management employed by that district regarding what constitutes effective leadership methods/styles and to assess whether differences existed between faculty and management groups regarding these opinions. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to all full-time district faculty and management. Two-hundred fourteen questionnaires were distributed, and 1 54 were returned for a return rate of 71 .9 percent. The questionnaire included 24 semantic differentiated items on a seven-point scale, plus two two-part open-ended response items. Results indicated that faculty and management held similar opinions and that those opinions were in keeping with literature on suggested leadership styles for TQM/CIP. Responses to the open-ended questions suggested six themes regarding opinions around TQM/CIP for the district: A lack of uniform definition for TQM/CIP exists; most faculty and management support implementation of a participative management style of leadership; a perception exists that TQM/CIP may be management's current *buzz word," and that management at the top is not committed to the process; a lack of respect for and trust in management exists; a perception exists that no union involvement has been enlisted in the process and that implementation of TQM/CIP would jeopardize union effectiveness.

Identifier

SC 11.MAL.1995.Sanchez.JA

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