Date of Conferral
2-23-2024
Date of Award
February 2024
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
School
Business Administration
Advisor
Dr. Levita Bassett
Abstract
Department store leaders who lack effective strategies to increase employee morale face an organizational decrease in productivity, thus increasing absenteeism and turnover rates, which could cost an organization billions of dollars. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to explore leadership strategies department store managers use to increase employee morale and improve productivity in their organizations. The participants were seven department store leaders who minimized low employee morale. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of public company documents. Through thematic analysis, three themes were identified: (a) effective communication, (b) employee engagement, and (c) employee reward. A key recommendation for business leaders is to open the lines of communication with employees through face-to-face meetings, suggestion boxes, and weekly, monthly, and yearly performance reviews. The implications for positive social change include the potential to increase employees’ morale and improve organizations’ productivity, leading to new employment opportunities within the community and allowing the organizational leaders and employees to assist individuals with their time, job training, and resources.
Recommended Citation
Williams, Stephanie L., "Leadership Strategies to Increase Department Store Employees' Morale" (2024). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 15394.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/15394
