PhD in Leadership

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://192.168.0.29/handle/123456789/124

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    Influence of strategic plan implementation on academic performance of selected Seventh-day Adventist educational institutions in Zimbabwe
    (Adventist University of Africa, 2025-05) Machila, Jalabani
    This study examined the influence of strategic plan implementation on the performance of selected Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) educational institutions in Zimbabwe. Its primary objective was to evaluate how effective these institutions convert strategic objectives into practical actions that enhance overall performance. Employing a concurrent mixed-methods approach, the research utilizes questionnaires, interviews, surveys, and document analysis for data collection. Both qualitative and quantitative data was obtained from 248 participants of selected SDA institutions in Zimbabwe. Findings revealed a significant positive relationship between effective strategic plan implementation and institutional performance. Institutions adept at translating and executing strategic objectives showed notable improvements in performance metrics, including academic outcomes, student experiences, and stakeholder satisfaction. Successful execution hinges on aligning objectives with available resources, establishing clear accountability, and cultivating a culture of continuous improvement. The study identifies several barriers to effective strategic plan implementation, such as resource constraints and resistance to change. It emphasizes the critical role of leadership, particularly pedagogical leadership, in overcoming these challenges and driving strategic initiative success. The study concluded that there is need to align strategic planning and implementation with the religious principles and educational philosophies underpinning the SDA institutions for improved performance. The study recommends increased autonomy for these institutions, strengthening partnerships, and enhancing stakeholder engagement in decision-making processes. It advocates for aligning organizational culture with strategic goals, addressing resistance to change proactively, and clearly communicating mission statements to all involved parties. Regular monitoring and evaluation of strategic impacts and conducting related workshops is necessary for improved results.
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    Followership traits and styles effect on organizational performance in Seventh-day Adventist organizations in Kenya: The moderating role of follower demographics and leadership personality
    (Adventist University of Africa, 2025-05)
    This study examined the influence of followership styles and traits on organizational performance and the moderating roles of leadership personality and follower demographics in Seventh-day Adventist organizations in Kenya. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational research design, data were collected from 381 respondents via self-administered questionnaires. The findings revealed a significant but weak correlation between leadership personality and employee performance (r = -.439, p < .001) and organizational financial sustainability (r = .271, p < .001). Followership styles, such as exemplary followers (β = .295, p < .001), alienated (β = -.279, p < .001), and pragmatic (β = .085, p = .001), are predictors of job satisfaction, while alienated (ß=-.385, p <.001) and passive followers (ß=-.159, p <.01) significantly influenced financial sustainability. Also, followership attributes such as competence was the strongest predictor of job satisfaction (ß = .529, p < .001), and good judgment was the strongest predictor of financial sustainability (ß = .455, p < .001). In addition, none of the followers' demographic characteristics had a significant effect. However, leadership personality mediated alienated followership style and job satisfaction (B= -.357, SE= .104, p = <.001). The study concludes that followership styles and traits significantly influence organizational performance, with leadership personality serving as the moderating factor. Based on the results, it is strongly recommended that organizations give serious consideration to followership.
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    Assessing the relationship between leadership development outcomes and servant leadership philosophy adoption among postgraduate students at Christian universities in Nairobi, Kenya
    (Adventist University of Africa, 2025-05) Obara, Ruth Kwalanda
    Leadership development remains a critical area of research. This study assessed the relationship between leadership development outcomes and adoption of a servant leadership philosophy among postgraduate students in Christian Universities in Nairobi, Kenya. The study established that Christian spiritual formation, personal formation and leader self -concepts are predictors of adoption of servant leadership. A framework for leadership development process has been proposed. The study employed a quantitative cross-sectional design. Stratified random sampling method was used to select 288 postgraduate students from three Christian universities in Nairobi, Kenya. Data were collected through a self- administered questionnaire using the survey monkey application and data analyzed using SPSS software. A multiple regression model was a good fit. Christian spiritual formation, personal formation and lead self -concepts statistically significantly predicted adoption of servant leadership philosophy, ( F(3,181)=33.75,p<.001. Adj. R2 =.36). Gender, year of study and course of study did not moderate servant leadership adoption. Level of study did have a moderating effect. These findings suggest that institutional mission focus on spiritual growth and leader identity formation plays a more significant role in developing servant leadership style. The findings have practical implications for various stakeholders. Institutions should implement structured curricula that emphasize spiritual and personal formation, leader identity development, and experiential leadership practice. Future research should explore qualitative narratives of leadership development outcomes, longitudinal tracking of leadership growth, and comparative studies across different institutional contexts.
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    Influence of mentorship on development of leadership skills among young future leaders in Ondo State, Nigeria
    (Adventist University of Africa, 2025-05) Ajayi, Ayodeji
    The development of the required leadership skills by young future leaders is very important to addressing the lack of efficient and effective leadership to achieve planned socio – economic development in both private and public sectors at the national and state levels in Nigeria. This has been identified by some studies on leadership skills in Nigeria. However, nothing seems to have been done on factors that influence the development of leadership skills among young future leaders, especially, in Ondo State, Nigeria. Therefore, this study examined the influence of mentorship on the development of leadership skills in young future leaders in Ondo State, Nigeria. An exploratory mixed research design was employed for the study. The total number of universities engaged in the study was six comprising one federal university, three state universities and two private universities. The targeted population for the study was 396 respondents out which 358 questionnaires were successfully returned representing 90.4% return rate. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The results revealed that at 0.05 level of significance, leadership skills are practised by young future leaders as evidenced by the p-value of 0.000. Furthermore, the result revealed that mentorship is received for leadership skills by young future leaders with p-value of 0.000. The result also showed that received mentorship significantly influence leadership skills practised by young future leaders with a p-value of 0.000. In addition, since the p-value is 0.000, the result indicated that demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the mentors significantly influence leadership skills practised by young future leaders. In this same vein, the result showed that the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the mentees independently influence the leadership skills practised by young future leaders with a p-value of 0.003. It was also discovered that with a p-value of 0.000, the frequency of meetings, duration of meeting and mentorship style each independently have significant influence on leadership skills practised by young future leaders. The study concluded that mentorship plays a crucial role in the development of leadership skills among young future leaders. Through this relationship, young future leaders can develop the needed leadership skills like communication, decision making, problem solving, taking risks, emotional intelligence, strategic visioning, motivating and inspiring others for effective and efficient leadership. Consequently, the study recommended that all relevant bodies should urgently incorporate mentorship courses into the curriculum of higher institutions and provide the enabling environment for mentorship to flourish in all sectors.
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    The influence of leaders’ spirituality on congregational spirituality through leadership behavior in local Seventh-day Adventist churches of Botswana Union Conference
    (Adventist University of Africa, 2025-05) Simankane, Tapologo Kago
    This study investigated the influence of church leaders’ spirituality on congregational spirituality through leadership behavior among local Seventh-day Adventist churches within the Botswana Union Conference. Anchored in Fry’s Spiritual Leadership Theory, the study recontextualized the “inner life” construct as “spiritual experience” to better reflect a theistic worldview and Christian praxis. The study aimed to (a) determine the relationship between leaders’ spirituality and congregational spirituality, (b) examine the mediating role of leadership behavior, and (c) assess whether contextual variables, conference affiliation, church size, and church location, moderate this relationship. The study employed a quantitative correlational design using a cross-sectional survey methodology. Data were collected from 49 churches and 309 church leaders and members across two conferences using standardized instruments: the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES), validated leadership behavior questionnaire and Congregational Spirituality questionnaire. Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation, multiple regression, mediation analysis using the Baron and Kenny (1986) approach, and moderation analysis. Findings revealed a significant positive correlation between leaders’ spirituality and congregational spirituality (r = .40, p = .004). Leadership behavior fully mediated this relationship, as evidenced by the reduction in significance of leaders’ spirituality when leadership behavior was included in the model (β = .167, p = .138), and the significant indirect effect confirmed by the Sobel test (t = 2.446). The combined model explained 48.9% of the variance in congregational spirituality (R² = .489). Moderation analyses showed that contextual variables, conference, church size, and church location, did not significantly alter the relationship between leaders’ spirituality and congregational spirituality. This study advances new knowledge by offering empirical evidence that spiritual leadership influences congregational spirituality primarily through behavioral enactment rather than direct influence. It also introduces a culturally and theologically contextualized adaptation of Spiritual Leadership Theory for faith-based organizations. The findings underscore the importance of intentional leadership development programs that integrate spiritual experience with modeled behavior, irrespective of organizational or geographical setting.
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    Determinants of effective electoral process in Northern Nigeria Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists: A basis for transformational change
    (Adventist University of Africa, 2022-06) Zakiri, Luka Ezekiel
    Non-adherence to the ethics of a good spiritual electoral process is usually caused by bad leadership, followers, disunity, and division. This study aimed to investigate the determinants of an effective electoral process in the Northern Nigeria Union Conference (NNUC) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This study employed a mixed-methods approach with a cross-sectional research design for quantitative data and an interview approach to supplement qualitative data. A self-designed questionnaire and interview approach were the data collection tools. Multiple data analysis tools, such as percentages, means, standard deviations, stepwise regression, and thematic analyses, were used. One hundred and ninety-six delegates from the three conferences—NENC, NWNC, and NCNC—formed the study sample. There are deficiencies: 1. An organizational factor: organizational culture, organizational politics, and adherence to rules; 2. Perceptions of delegates on ethnicity and geo-political affiliation 3. Leadership influences: political skills and political power. 3. Mediating factors: transparency, spirituality, and competence. Findings revealed that transparency, spirituality, and competence are prerequisites during constituency (elections). The researcher recommends that the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church leadership consider factors that are responding to non-adherence to the ethics of an effective electoral process by restructuring the nominating committee chairmanship. Selection of leaders should be based on competent, spiritual, experienced, and educational qualifications for administrative officers, according to the constitution of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the 21st century. Finally, the conferences and unions should have at most two consecutive terms in office.
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    Influence of Transformational Leadership on the Personnel of Church and Institutions in Cameroon Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventist Church
    (Adventist University of Africa, 2023-04) Hendjena, Tchanaga Richard
    Personnel in the Cameroon Union Mission (CMUM) demonstrated a high level of performance. Leaders seemed to use transformational leadership (TL) that is multi-dimensional. The four dimensions of TL are idealized influence (II), inspirational motivation (IM), intellectual stimulation (IS), and individualized consideration (IC). This study investigated and empirically established which dimensions the leaders in CMUM were mostly using. Several studies have previously demonstrated the significant level of influence of that TL on personnel performance. To fulfill this purpose, the study adopted causal descriptive-correlational research design for the quantitative part while the qualitative part adopted the phenomenological and explanatory designs. The target population comprised 447 employees of which 21 were top managers, 28 were middle managers and 398 being subordinates. The sample sizes were 199 respondents for personnel and 49 respondents for top and middle managers. The results revealed a mean for II (mean = 3.73; SD = 1.11), a mean for IM (mean = 3.60; SD = 1.11), a mean for the IS score (mean = 3. 49; SD = 1.13), a mean for IC (mean = 3.47; SD = 1.16), and a mean for personnel performance (mean = 4.29; SD = 0.76). The null hypothesis that stated there was no TL dimension mostly used in in the CMUM of the SDA Church was rejected when the predictor variables were taken individually. The Beta values of predictors were: a Beta value of 0.394 with a p-value of 0.000 for II, a Beta value of 0.440 with a p-value of 0.000 for IM, a Beta value of 0.383 with a p-value of 0.000 for the IS, and a Beta value of 0.403 with a p-value of 0.000 for IC. The qualitative results also supported that TL had an influence on PP and the IM dimension was the mostly used. They revealed that the null hypothesis was rejected for IM with a Beta value of 0.402 with a p-value of 0.016, while the null hypothesis was accepted based on predictors: II, IS and IC at values respectively of 0.997, 0.633, and 0.453. The results contrasted the literature review findings.
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    Determinants of Effective Electoral Process in Northern Nigeria Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists: A Basis for Transformational Change
    (Adventist University of Africa, 2022-06) Zakiri, Luka Ezekiel
    Non-adherence to the ethics of a good spiritual electoral process is usually caused by bad leadership, followers, disunity, and division. This study aimed to investigate the determinants of an effective electoral process in the Northern Nigeria Union Conference (NNUC) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This study employed a mixed-methods approach with a cross-sectional research design for quantitative data and an interview approach to supplement qualitative data. A self-designed questionnaire and interview approach were the data collection tools. Multiple data analysis tools, such as percentages, means, standard deviations, stepwise regression, and thematic analyses, were used. One hundred and ninety-six delegates from the three conferences—NENC, NWNC, and NCNC—formed the study sample. There are deficiencies: 1. An organizational factor: organizational culture, organizational politics, and adherence to rules; 2. Perceptions of delegates on ethnicity and geo-political affiliation 3. Leadership influences: political skills and political power. 3. Mediating factors: transparency, spirituality, and competence. Findings revealed that transparency, spirituality, and competence are prerequisites during constituency (elections). The researcher recommends that the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church leadership consider factors that are responding to non-adherence to the ethics of an effective electoral process by restructuring the nominating committee chairmanship. Selection of leaders should be based on competent, spiritual, experienced, and educational qualifications for administrative officers, according to the constitution of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the 21st century. Finally, the conferences and unions should have at most two consecutive terms in office.
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    Gender inequality and disparity in enterprises and its effect on work performance in Malawi: an analysis of culture, age, gender
    (Adventist University of Africa, 2023-04) Mtike, Rubbie Mzumara
    There have been numerous studies on gender inequality and its persistence since 18th century. Despite studies, international, regional and national laws and policies, gender inequality continues to persist. This study was to explore the persistence of gender inequality among employees and its impact on gender disparity at the workplace in medium and large enterprises in Mzuzu City, Malawi. The elimination of gender inequality is inadequately addressed leading to persistence of gender inequality. The research questions were: 1. Is there a relationship between gender disparity and perceptions towards gender equality at the workplace? 2. What Is the relationship between employees’ performance and perceptions towards gender equality at the workplace? 3. To what extent does culture affect employees’ perceptions towards gender equality at the workplace. 4. What is the effect of employees’ age on employees’ perceptions towards gender equality at the work place? 5. What is the impact of gender on employees’ perceptions towards gender equality at the workplace? Cross-sectional quantitative research design was used to explore the effect of culture, age and gender on employees’ perspectives towards gender equality and how it correlates with gender disparity and work performance at the workplace. Questionnaires were administered to human resource department and 383 employees from 26 enterprises from a population of 85,089 employees and 262 companies in Mzuzu city. Correlation and multiple regression analysis were done using PASW where correlation revealed statistically significant relationship between gender disparity (r=.141, p = 0.006 ˂ 0.05), work performance (r = .451, p = 000 ˂ 0.05) with dependent variable employees’ perceptions towards gender equality. Multiple regression showed culture with 14% variance on employees’ perception towards gender equality with (β = -.137, t = - 2.87, p=.004 ˂ 0. 05) and was statistically significant. Age and gender were not statistically significant. Moderating variables between culture and employees’ perceptions towards gender equality, Gender inequality was statistically significant with (β = -.185, t = -3.646, p=.000 ˂ 0. 05) and Education was not. Therefore, culture moderated by gender inequality has an effect on the employees’ perceptions towards gender equality at the workplace. Strategies towards Gender equality have to be contextualized.
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    Exploring Maasai cultural influence on male youth sexual risk behavior and the role of leadership in Longido District, Tanzania
    (Adventist University of Africa, 2022-04) Mitekaro, Winfrida Aneth
    The main objective of this study was to explore the Maasai cultural influence on male youth sexual risk behavior and the role of leadership in Longido District, Tanzania, and to generate possible solutions to mitigate the current problem. Sexual risk behavior has become a global leadership crisis as well as a sexual and reproductive health challenge. It is the leading cause of STIs and other adverse consequences (Chawla & Kassa et al., 2016; Sarkar, 2019). A study done by Abdul et al. (2018) on the prevalence of self-reported symptoms among youth in Tanzania indicated that STIs prevalence is very high and knowledge about STIs is deficient. Maasai male youth of Longido District in Tanzania have been reckless in their sexual behavior. No evidence from the surveyed literature on what the leadership in place has been doing to combat the sexual risk behavior issue among the Maasai male youth. A study was required to explore the cultural influences on Maasai youth SRB and the role of leadership within this particular community since there was none. Again, Maasai’s perception in regard to SRB was unknown. The persistence of this condition would lead to increasingly poor health in the community and unnecessary deaths. The study used a focused ethnographic case study design which is an in-depth qualitative method of inquiry that challenged and improved the conventional ways due to its brief time in data collection, its focus on a single social phenomenon, and an in-depth inquiry. Research instruments were individual interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and documents. The finding from this study led to the development of seven themes which revealed that there was STI prevalence due to sexual risk behavior influenced by cultural socialization process and indigenous knowledge. It was also found out that government leadership and non-government organizational leadership played their role in many aspects to improve lives, but so far, no health intervention attempt has been made due to a lack of courage to face well-rooted and protected cultural practices. The study recommended a hybrid health and leadership intervention model to mitigate the existing challenge. Keywords: Sexual risk behavior, Leadership, intervention, Maasai, Longido.