Date of Conferral

10-14-2024

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Management

Advisor

Annie Brown

Abstract

Poor leadership is a risk to small business enterprises’ survival because of its association with lowered productivity, stifled innovation, increased employee turnover, and potential financial loss. Ineffective leadership costs U.S. organizations up to $550 billion annually. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies engineering managers use to implement a global positioning system (GPS) in their organizations to increase project success rates for business outcomes. The population consisted of six engineering managers from two companies in the Bay Area and Southern California departments of transportation who had successfully used leadership strategies to implement GPS to increase project success rates. Data were collected from semi structured interviews and a review of organization employee handbooks. Through thematic analysis, five themes were identified: technical knowledge, teamwork, employee recognition, effective communications, and work–life balance. A key recommendation is for business leaders to acknowledge employees’ achievements through monthly employee recognition activities such as awards and lunches. The implications for positive social change include the potential to retain valued employees while supporting innovation to increase project development in the local community workforce.

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