Date of Conferral

12-16-2025

Date of Award

December 2025

Degree

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

School

Management

Advisor

Ashley Riebel

Abstract

A lack of effective communication strategies to increase employee productivity and profitability is a concern among leaders in the finance industry. This problem is important because, without such strategies, organizations might experience decreased employee morale and misalignment, which could reduce productivity and profitability. Grounded in leader–member exchange theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore the effective communication strategies that senior finance leaders use to increase employee productivity and organizational profitability. Participants were six senior leaders from the finance industry in the Cayman Islands, each with at least 5 years of executive responsibility over multiunit or enterprise functions. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, analysis of secondary data, and studies on similar topics. Thematic analysis revealed six key themes: (a) designing and shaping leadership as communication architecture, (b) providing clarity and alignment to increase productivity, (c) orchestrating channels and norms, (d) embracing inclusion, dialogue, and recognition, (e) developing measurement and continuous adaptation, and (f) enabling autonomy and adoption. A key recommendation is for senior leaders to institutionalize disciplined communication cadences that combine clear strategic intent with transparent key performance indicators and compliance-aligned guidance. The implications for positive social change include the potential for finance leaders to deploy targeted communication strategies that elevate trust, develop local talent, strengthen an ethical and resilient financial ecosystem, and increase employee productivity and organizational profitability, leading to better economic outcomes for all.

Download

Share

 
COinS