Leadership Development Strategies to Build Leaders Through Mentorship Programs Devin Bradley Walden University
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Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2018 Leadership Development Strategies to Build Leaders Through Mentorship Programs Devin Bradley Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Commons, and the Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Management and Technology Leadership Development Strategies to Build Leaders Through Mentorship Programs This is to certify that the doctoral study by Devin Bradley has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Jorge Gaytan, Committee Chairperson, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. Kim Critchlow, Committee Member, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. Peter Anthony, University Reviewer, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2018 Abstract Leadership Development Strategies to Build Leaders Through Mentorship Programs by Devin Bradley MS, Bethune-Cookman University, 2010 BS, Bethune-Cookman University, 2008 Doctoral Study Submitted in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University May 2018 Abstract Developing employees to assume leadership positions has never been more critical for organizational leaders given the competitive climate and the shortage of executive leaders. Organizations must develop future leaders at unprecedented rates to assume roles and responsibilities of the current executive leaders who will leave the organization due to retirement and other forms of attrition. Using mentorship theory, the purpose of this multicase study was to explore strategies that business leaders use to successfully improve their mentoring programs for employee leadership development. The target population consisted of 3 business leaders located in central Florida with successful experience in improving their mentoring programs for employee leadership development. Data were collected via semistructured interviews and review of organizational documents. Data were analyzed using methodological triangulation through inductive coding of phrases and words. Three themes emerged from the thematic analysis, which are: mentoring functions are critical for leadership development, multiple modes of mentoring are effective for leadership development, and a mentor‘s motivation is critical for a successful mentoring relationship with mentee. Business leaders must understand the processes and functions of mentoring to make informed decisions when considering integrating mentorship programs into the organizational processes and initiatives aimed at leadership development. The implications for positive social change include the development of leaders empowered to make significant contributions to their local communities, allowing leaders to effectively respond to challenges associated with lack of proper health, homelessness, environmental sustainability, and violent acts. Leadership Development Strategies to Build Leaders Through Mentorship Programs by Devin Bradley MS, Bethune-Cookman University, 2010 BS, Bethune-Cookman University, 2008 Doctoral Study Submitted in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University May 2018 Dedication I dedicate this doctoral study in loving memory of my grandparents. My parents Dr. David E. Bradley Sr. and Cynthia Bradley, without your love, understanding, unwavering support, and guidance, the completion of this work would not be possible. My brothers David Bradley Jr. and Donte Bradley, you both provide support and encouragement in your own unique ways. My close friends, your patience and positivity. Acknowledgments I did not take this journey to completing this study alone. I would first like to thank my chair, Dr. Jorge Gaytan. No one is perfect, but he has been close to it, a remarkable example of support, patience, steady guidance, encouragement, and academic excellence. The willingness to not just do his job, but to go over and beyond the call of duty for each student. He encouraged me to push for excellence not by his words, but by his actions. I would like to thank all my instructors and Walden faculty that poured into me with their expertise and guidance. I would also like to acknowledge the faculty and staff of Bethune-Cookman University Graduate department for delivering a leadership program that provided a major foundation for my success. I am very thankful for Dr. Meta Harris, I cannot thank her enough for her love and support during my journey. I would like to thank my second committee member, Dr. Kim Critchlow, for facilitating my growth and encouragement to strive for greatness with her keen insight and perspective. I also thank the URR, Peter J. Anthony, for reviewing this study to ensure I would meet the quality of excellence at Walden University. Table of Contents Section 1: Foundation of the Study ......................................................................................1 Background of the Problem ...........................................................................................1 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................2 Purpose Statement ..........................................................................................................3 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................3 Research Question .........................................................................................................5 Interview Questions .......................................................................................................5 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................6 Operational Definitions ..................................................................................................7 Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations ................................................................9 Assumptions ............................................................................................................ 9 Limitations ............................................................................................................ 10 Delimitations ......................................................................................................... 11 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................11 Contribution to Business Practice ......................................................................... 11 Implications for Social Change ............................................................................. 12 A Review of the Professional and Academic Literature ..............................................13 Application to the Applied Business Problem ...................................................... 14 Kram‘s Mentorship Theory................................................................................... 15 Other Contrasting Theories ................................................................................... 32 Transition .....................................................................................................................40 i Section 2: The Project ........................................................................................................42 Purpose Statement ........................................................................................................42 Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................42 Participants ...................................................................................................................46 Research Method and Design ......................................................................................49 Research Method .................................................................................................. 49 Research Design.................................................................................................... 51 Population and Sampling .............................................................................................54 Ethical Research...........................................................................................................56 Data Collection Instruments ........................................................................................58 Data Collection Technique ..........................................................................................61 Data Organization Technique ......................................................................................66 Data Analysis ...............................................................................................................69