Date of Conferral
1-6-2025
Degree
Doctor of Information Technology (D.I.T.)
School
Information Systems and Technology
Advisor
Jon McKeeby
Abstract
Information technology (IT) employees often face high stress, burnout, and turnover, indicating a potential gap in IT leaders’ emotional intelligence (EI), which may hinder their ability to support and retain their teams effectively. Since IT plays a critical role in organizational performance and achieving strategic goals, addressing this gap is crucial for improving team well-being and organizational success. Grounded in EI theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between IT managers’ EI subscales—assertiveness and interpersonal relationships—and their influence on the EI subscale, happiness/well–being indicator. The participants were 38 IT managers from U.S. organizations who completed a 133-item EQ-i 2.0 self-assessment. The results of the multiple linear regression were statistically significant between the EI subscales, assertiveness, interpersonal relationships, and the happiness/well–being indicator, F(2, 35) = 13.40, p < .001, R2 = .43. The final model showed that the interpersonal relationships predictor (B = 0.65, t = 4.22, p < .001) had a highly positive correlation and was statistically significant. In contrast, the assertiveness predictor (B = 0.22, t = 1.22, p = .23) had a slight positive correlation but was not statistically significant. A key recommendation is for organizational leaders to incorporate EI assessments and training into leadership development, hiring, and onboarding processes, focusing on EI traits to improve team morale, productivity, and retention and foster a supportive workplace culture. The implications for positive social change include the potential for promoting EI development among IT managers, thereby supporting work environments that enhance productivity, morale, and work–life balance.
Recommended Citation
Muheim, Tina M., "Information Technology Management and Emotional Intelligence" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 16884.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/16884
