Trust in Union Leaders and Decline in Union Membership
Transcript Of Trust in Union Leaders and Decline in Union Membership
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Walden University
ScholarWorks
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection
2017
Trust in Union Leaders and Decline in Union Membership
Seth Ellery Francois
Walden University
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Ethics and Political Philosophy Commons, Labor Economics Commons, and the
Organizational Behavior and Theory 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 study by
Seth Francois
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. Steve Roussas, Committee Chairperson, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. Michael Ewald, Committee Member, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. Reginald Taylor, University Reviewer, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty
Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D.
Walden University 2017
Abstract Trust in Union Leaders and Decline in Union Membership
by Seth E. Francois
MA, National University, 2003 BS, University of Phoenix, 2001
Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration
Walden University October 2017
Abstract As of 2015, public opinion of the ethical and honesty standards of labor union leaders was low, with 36% of the public reporting a low or very low rating, and only 18% reporting high or very high ratings. Grounded in leadership behavioral theory, the purpose of this correlation study was to examine the relationship between union members’ perceptions of union leadership consideration, union members’ perceptions of leadership initiation of structure, and union members’ perceptions of leadership trust. Forty-four union members completed a brief demographic survey, the Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire XII, and the Trust and Employee Satisfaction Survey. The results of simultaneous linear regression indicated that model as a whole was able to significantly predict union members’ perceptions of leadership trust, F(2,41) = 10.40, p < .001, R2 = .30. Leadership consideration was the only significantly predictor of union members’ perceptions of leadership trust, β = .62, t = 3.23, p = .002. The results may have significance for social change; union leaders can implement leadership consideration to improve the trust levels of members towards union leaders. Further social change implications include the potential to increase union membership. Moreover, society benefits when strong labor unions can provide a pathway to checks and balances that subsequently may improve employees working conditions, worker’s pay, local economy, and produce higher quality goods and services.
Trust in Union Leaders and Decline in Union Membership by
Seth E. Francois
MA, National University, 2003 BS, University of Phoenix, 2001
Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration
Walden University October 2017
Dedication I would like to dedicate this study to my Mom, Fabiola Francois, and my two sons, Joshua and Joseth.
Acknowledgments I would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Roussas for guiding me to the finish line. Dr. Roussas was not only my Chair, he was also an advocate, navigator, and inspiration. I also would like to thank Dr. Mike Ewald and Dr. Reginald Taylor for the excellent feedback provided. This has been an amazing journey. I would like to thank Dr. Judy Blando for mentoring my progress through the initial proposal phase, and Dr. Charlene Dunfee assisting me with the initial aligning of Section 1 and 2. Thanks to my wonderful Mom, Fabiola Francois for all of her support and encouragement along with my two sons, Joshua and Joseth.
Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ......................................................................................................................v Section 1: Foundation of the Study......................................................................................1
Background of the Problem ...........................................................................................1 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................2 Purpose Statement..........................................................................................................2 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................3 Research Question .........................................................................................................4 Hypotheses .....................................................................................................................4 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................5 Operational Definitions..................................................................................................8 Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations................................................................9 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................11 Review of the Professional and Academic Literature..................................................12 Application to the Applied Business Problem .............................................................14 Transition .....................................................................................................................49 Section 2: The Project ........................................................................................................50 Purpose Statement........................................................................................................50 Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................50 Participants ...................................................................................................................52 Research Method and Design ......................................................................................54
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Population and Sampling .............................................................................................56 Ethical Research...........................................................................................................58 Data Collection Instruments ........................................................................................59 Data Collection Technique ..........................................................................................66 Data Analysis ...............................................................................................................67 Study Validity ..............................................................................................................72 Transition and Summary..............................................................................................74 Section 3: Application to Professional Practice and Implications for Change ..................76 Introduction ..................................................................................................................76 Presentation of Findings ..............................................................................................76 Applications to Professional Practice ..........................................................................84 Implications for Social Change....................................................................................86 Recommendations for Action ......................................................................................88 Recommendations for Further Research......................................................................89 Reflections ...................................................................................................................91 Summary and Study Conclusions ................................................................................92 References ..........................................................................................................................95 Appendix A: Survey Questions: Trust and Employee Satisfaction Survey and Use
Permission ............................................................................................................113 Appendix B: Survey Questions: Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire,
Form XII–Ideal Leader ........................................................................................116 Appendix C: Use Permission ...........................................................................................122
ii
Appendix D: Demographic Survey..................................................................................123 iii
Walden University
ScholarWorks
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection
2017
Trust in Union Leaders and Decline in Union Membership
Seth Ellery Francois
Walden University
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Ethics and Political Philosophy Commons, Labor Economics Commons, and the
Organizational Behavior and Theory 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 study by
Seth Francois
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. Steve Roussas, Committee Chairperson, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. Michael Ewald, Committee Member, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. Reginald Taylor, University Reviewer, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty
Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D.
Walden University 2017
Abstract Trust in Union Leaders and Decline in Union Membership
by Seth E. Francois
MA, National University, 2003 BS, University of Phoenix, 2001
Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration
Walden University October 2017
Abstract As of 2015, public opinion of the ethical and honesty standards of labor union leaders was low, with 36% of the public reporting a low or very low rating, and only 18% reporting high or very high ratings. Grounded in leadership behavioral theory, the purpose of this correlation study was to examine the relationship between union members’ perceptions of union leadership consideration, union members’ perceptions of leadership initiation of structure, and union members’ perceptions of leadership trust. Forty-four union members completed a brief demographic survey, the Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire XII, and the Trust and Employee Satisfaction Survey. The results of simultaneous linear regression indicated that model as a whole was able to significantly predict union members’ perceptions of leadership trust, F(2,41) = 10.40, p < .001, R2 = .30. Leadership consideration was the only significantly predictor of union members’ perceptions of leadership trust, β = .62, t = 3.23, p = .002. The results may have significance for social change; union leaders can implement leadership consideration to improve the trust levels of members towards union leaders. Further social change implications include the potential to increase union membership. Moreover, society benefits when strong labor unions can provide a pathway to checks and balances that subsequently may improve employees working conditions, worker’s pay, local economy, and produce higher quality goods and services.
Trust in Union Leaders and Decline in Union Membership by
Seth E. Francois
MA, National University, 2003 BS, University of Phoenix, 2001
Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration
Walden University October 2017
Dedication I would like to dedicate this study to my Mom, Fabiola Francois, and my two sons, Joshua and Joseth.
Acknowledgments I would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Roussas for guiding me to the finish line. Dr. Roussas was not only my Chair, he was also an advocate, navigator, and inspiration. I also would like to thank Dr. Mike Ewald and Dr. Reginald Taylor for the excellent feedback provided. This has been an amazing journey. I would like to thank Dr. Judy Blando for mentoring my progress through the initial proposal phase, and Dr. Charlene Dunfee assisting me with the initial aligning of Section 1 and 2. Thanks to my wonderful Mom, Fabiola Francois for all of her support and encouragement along with my two sons, Joshua and Joseth.
Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ......................................................................................................................v Section 1: Foundation of the Study......................................................................................1
Background of the Problem ...........................................................................................1 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................2 Purpose Statement..........................................................................................................2 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................3 Research Question .........................................................................................................4 Hypotheses .....................................................................................................................4 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................5 Operational Definitions..................................................................................................8 Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations................................................................9 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................11 Review of the Professional and Academic Literature..................................................12 Application to the Applied Business Problem .............................................................14 Transition .....................................................................................................................49 Section 2: The Project ........................................................................................................50 Purpose Statement........................................................................................................50 Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................50 Participants ...................................................................................................................52 Research Method and Design ......................................................................................54
i
Population and Sampling .............................................................................................56 Ethical Research...........................................................................................................58 Data Collection Instruments ........................................................................................59 Data Collection Technique ..........................................................................................66 Data Analysis ...............................................................................................................67 Study Validity ..............................................................................................................72 Transition and Summary..............................................................................................74 Section 3: Application to Professional Practice and Implications for Change ..................76 Introduction ..................................................................................................................76 Presentation of Findings ..............................................................................................76 Applications to Professional Practice ..........................................................................84 Implications for Social Change....................................................................................86 Recommendations for Action ......................................................................................88 Recommendations for Further Research......................................................................89 Reflections ...................................................................................................................91 Summary and Study Conclusions ................................................................................92 References ..........................................................................................................................95 Appendix A: Survey Questions: Trust and Employee Satisfaction Survey and Use
Permission ............................................................................................................113 Appendix B: Survey Questions: Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire,
Form XII–Ideal Leader ........................................................................................116 Appendix C: Use Permission ...........................................................................................122
ii
Appendix D: Demographic Survey..................................................................................123 iii