Examining the Relationship Between Communication Apprehension and Individual Innovativeness in Managers Michelle Campagnola Walden University
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2017 Examining the Relationship Between Communication Apprehension and Individual Innovativeness in Managers Michelle Campagnola Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, Communication Commons, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Commons, and the Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies 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 This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Michelle Campagnola 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. John Kitoko, Committee Chairperson, Management Faculty Dr. David Gould, Committee Member, Management Faculty Dr. Robert Haussmann, University Reviewer, Management Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2017 Abstract Examining the Relationship Between Communication Apprehension and Individual Innovativeness in Managers by Michelle Campagnola MBA, Florida Atlantic University, 2009 BA, Florida Atlantic University, 2007 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Walden University November 2017 Abstract Communicative challenges that hinder managerial engagement in social networks can impede innovation adoption and thereby damage the financial performance and competitiveness of a firm. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between communication apprehension (CA) and individual innovativeness in managers. The focus of the research questions was determining if a relationship exists between these variables before and after controlling for demographic characteristics. With diffusion of innovation theory as the theoretical framework, this research involved an attempt to address how adoption categories relate to varying degrees of CA. One hundred and five American-based owner-executives, senior managers, and middle managers completed 2 preexisting survey instruments on the Internet measuring individual perceptions of CA and individual innovativeness. Results from a Pearson correlation analysis indicated that a significant negative correlation existed between CA and individual innovativeness. A multiple regression analysis showed that CA and individual innovativeness were negatively correlated after controlling for gender, age, and education level. Furthermore, participants’ level of education was negatively related to both total CA score and public speaking CA score. Leaders may apply these findings to achieve positive social change by using tools to reduce CA in managers. Such initiatives could lead to greater social confidence in managers, improved organizational performance, and more meaningful social engagement in the innovations that continue to shape the world. Examining the Relationship Between Communication Apprehension and Individual Innovativeness in Managers by Michelle Campagnola MBA, Florida Atlantic University, 2009 BA, Florida Atlantic University, 2007 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Walden University November 2017 Dedication I dedicate this study to my nephews Daniel and Michael for proving to the world that having communicative challenges does not rob a person of the ability to accomplish great things. Never stop challenging yourselves. You both are beautiful, and you inspire me. Acknowledgments First, I give all of my thanks to God for listening to me and guiding me, and for offering His promise to be patient with me as I continue to learn and grow as a Christian. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to pursue my PhD online. This flexibility has given me the chance to view Joyce Meyer’s program, Enjoying Everyday Life, which continues to help me to strengthen my relationship with God and to discover a deeper connection with the phrase “positive social change.” Next, I am grateful for the guidance, direction, and mentorship of my third and final chairperson, Dr. John Kitoko. I have appreciated his timely reviews and responses to my submitted work. I am also grateful to Dr. David Gould, my committee member, and Dr. Robert Haussmann, my URR, for their invaluable feedback and fast turnarounds. I had a “dream team” committee. I want to thank my second chairperson, Dr. Walter McCollum, who before being promoted to Executive Director/Dean of Student Affairs, guided me on how to organize my literature review. I would also like to honor my first chairperson, Dr. Lilburn Hoehn, who sadly passed away on September 28, 2016, at age 84. I will always treasure the phone conversations we had together about his experiences working inside and outside of academia. Special thanks to my APA editor, Toni Williams, for teaching me how to make my dissertation shine. Thanks also to Dr. Tom Granoff for his “expert, sweatshirt” statistics assistance. And I would like to thank my MGMT 9000 cohort for their incredible encouragement each week: Mel, Rod, V.K., Keneika, and Tambei. Huge thanks to my parents for providing me with their emotional and financial support throughout my doctoral journey. Their generosity never ceases to amaze me. I am thankful that my parents engrained in me the value of a solid education, and I am grateful to be loved by two parents who have always wanted happiness and self-reliance for their daughters. Lastly, I am grateful for my amazing husband, Jake. His relentless encouragement provides reinforcement to all of my ambitions, and this doctoral journey was no exception. My dream became his dream, and with humor and determination, we were able to tackle this monumental milestone together. I appreciate the sacrifices that he made for us while we were on this journey. Regrettably for my husband, however, my PhD does not increase my knowledge about how to load the dishwasher properly. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... vi List of Figures ................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background of the Study ...............................................................................................3 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................6 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................7 Research Questions and Hypotheses .............................................................................8 Theoretical Foundation ..................................................................................................9 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................11 Definitions....................................................................................................................13 Assumptions .................................................................................................................14 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................15 Limitations ...................................................................................................................16 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................17 Significance to Theory .......................................................................................... 17 Significance to Practice......................................................................................... 17 Significance to Social Change .............................................................................. 18 Summary and Transition ..............................................................................................19 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................21 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................21 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................23 i Applications of DOI Theory ................................................................................. 27 Relevance of DOI Theory ..................................................................................... 29 The Importance of Innovation and Communication Apprehension ............................30 The Importance Social Networks in the Innovation Process ................................ 36 Managers’ Role in the Innovation Process ..........................................................