Doctor of Public Administration
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Item United States Military Reserve 2012: Operations Tempo, Organizational Commitment, and Retention(2018-07) Goodman, CreightonPurpose. The purpose of this big data study was to explore the relationship among operations tempo, commitment, and retention among the different Reserve component personnel, including the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Theoretical Framework. The theoretical framework of this research was grounded in Allen and Meyer’s (1990) 3-component model of organizational commitment. This theory suggests organizational commitment is a multidimensional model consisting of an affective, continuance, and normative component. The researcher of the study expected this theoretical framework to interact with operations tempo and retention. Methodology. This study employed an exploratory nonexperimental quantitative research design that examined operations tempo, commitment, and retention among the Reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces. A Spearman rank correlation coefficient was employed to examine the associations between operations tempo, commitment, and retention. Pay grade was also added to the Spearman rank correlation coefficient and due to limited access to demographic information, was the only demographic used in this study. A multiple linear regression analysis was then used to test whether operations tempo, affective commitment, continuance commitment, normative commitment, and pay grade predict retention. Finally, the researcher conducted an ANOVA to compare the mean scores of affective, continuance, normative, and organizational commitment among the different Reserve components. Findings. Examination of the quantitative research data revealed a significant association between operations tempo and each of the 3 components of commitment. There was also a significant association between each of the 3 components of commitment and retention. Pay grade also revealed a significant association with each of the 3 components of commitment and retention. Most noteworthy among the predictive analyses was affective commitments role in predicting retention. Finally, the Air National Guard displayed the highest mean of organizational commitment and Marine Corps Reserve displayed the lowest. Conclusions. This study adds to the body of knowledge by exploring the role operations tempo and commitment play in the retention of different U.S. Reserve components. Further, the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve contain differing levels of affective, continuance, and normative commitment.Item The Social Impact of Public Safety Exploring(2018-07) Guzzetta, Brian W.Purpose. The purpose of this quantitative research study was to investigate the potential social impact that offering early public safety education had on a community. Utilizing Learning for Life’s national membership, data were collected comparing individuals who participated in Fire & Emergency Services (EMS) and Law Enforcement Career Exploring Programs to those who had not. By looking beyond the perceived benefits and focusing on the quantifiable results of program participation, an explicit representation of the social impact is identified. Theoretical Framework. The theoretical framework of this research was anchored on empowerment theory. This theory indicates that by empowering individuals through a helping system, proactive behaviors will result in social change. As applied to the present study, this theory holds that the researcher would expect that participation in an early public safety education program to influence or explain the proactive behaviors that create social impact. Methodology. This study employed a nonexperimental, quantitative research design to examine the benefits of empowering young adults with early public safety education. To test a series of assumptions regarding the prosocial effects of participating in Fire & EMS and Law Enforcement Career Exploring Programs, data collected by Learning for Life were analyzed. A series of statistical analyses were conducted to see whether two groups of survey respondents—former Explorers and non-Explorers differ in their responses to questions categorized as career opportunities, leadership experience, life skills, citizenship, and character education. Findings. Examination of the quantitative research data revealed a statistically significant relationship between participating in Fire & EMS and Law Enforcement Career Exploring Programs and prosocial behavior. Specifically, the data indicated that young adults between the ages of 23-28 who had participated in a Public Safety Exploring Program for at least 1 year had experienced enhanced career opportunities, leadership experience, life skills, citizenship, and character education compared to similar individuals who had not participated in an Exploring Program. Conclusions. This study adds to the body of knowledge by combining quantitative supporting data to the established preconceived benefits of early public safety education. It also confirms the impact of programs that create social change through individual empowerment.Item Employee Engagement: The Path to Understanding Public Sector Silent Heroes - Millennial Accountants(2018-08) Harris, Tanya SarahMillennials are the fastest growing generational cohort to enter the professional workforce. The workplace is changing, and public sector leaders need tools to attract, motivate, and retain the talent to fill the void left by baby boomers who are retiring in massive numbers. Engaging employees has been shown to increase productivity, efficiency, morale, and retention, and millennials indicated that they need and want to be engaged within their organizations. This research study explores the topic of millennial employee engagement by conducting a qualitative study using phenomenology to understand how millennials define employee engagement, their lived experiences, and the antecedents that influence their level of employee engagement. Twenty local public sector accountants were interviewed and confirmed that a universal definition of employee engagement would remain elusive. Drawing on relevant literature, individual and organizational employee engagement antecedents were selected and analyzed to determine if there is an impact on millennial public sector accountants. This study revealed that millennial public sector accountants were most influenced by management support, work/life balance, professional growth and development, having a voice, and providing technical expertise in order to help their organization serve the greater good. When millennials perceive that they will receive a benefit from their organization, they will then reciprocate with increased commitment and productivity. The results of this study may enable public sector leaders to understand how to engage millennials to bring out their greatest potential, and in turn, organizations will have the tools and resources to meet their organizational goals and mission and to provide the highest level of services to their citizens.Item Community College Transfer Outcomes: A Measure of Accountability(2018-10) Aunai, SamasoniPurpose. Most community college students do not graduate let alone transfer to university. Hence, the purpose of this qualitative study was to (a) examine the learned experiences of California community colleges and California State University (CSU) administrators and staff in implementing the California Student Transfer Achievement Reform (STAR) Act, 2010 as it relates to transfer to a university and (b) conduct an analysis of institutional (community colleges and universities) strategic plans, community college completion data, and the CSU undergraduate enrollment report. Theoretical Framework: This study was based on the accountability theoretical framework specifically of professional, political, and legal principles coupled with the learning, democratic, and constitutional accountability perspectives. Methodology. Nineteen semistructured interviews were conducted with participants from 3 community colleges and 3 CSU campuses in the Central Valley region of California. The participants were administrators and staff with firsthand experience and knowledge pertaining to transfer . Institutional strategic plans, community college completion data, and the CSU undergraduate enrollment report were analyzed to gain an in-depth understanding of transfer. Findings. Review of the qualitative data suggests that the community colleges and CSUs are addressing the requirements of the STAR Act, 2010. The different articulation, transfer, and admission requirements at the CSUs create confusion for students. The data indicate an increase in both associate degrees for transfer (ADTs) awarded at the community colleges and undergraduate enrollment at the CSUs. However, the data also demonstrate a percentage decrease in undergraduate transfer enrollment at the CSUs including 2 of the CSUs that were part of the study. Notably, the percentage of community college transfer students who earn a bachelor’s degree in 2 years is significantly higher than freshman students who do so in 4 years. Conclusions and Recommendations. From the data, the percentage of ADTs awarded by the community colleges in California has increased in the last 5 years (2012–2017). However, current data indicate that the percentage of transfer community college students enrolled at the CSUs is still low. Public universities should review and make changes to their articulation, transfer, and admissions processes to better increase the number of community college students who transfer to a university. Future laws and processes should keep in mind the complex lives students live and need to better support transfer students at the university.Item The Role of Public-Private Collaborations in Arts Education(2018-10) Blanco, Javier E.There continues to be a high demand for public-private partnerships (PPPs) that focus on organizations thinking and working together on issues of critical concern, shifting the emphasis from individual efforts to group work, and from independent to community projects. The purpose for collaboration between 2 sectors is to allow for the delivery of public goods and services in more effective and efficient ways. Public school districts in the United States have demonstrated the greatest improvement in student outcomes based on deep collaboration between public schools and community organizations. The focus of this research is to understand how nonprofits approach collaboration and partnerships with a public agency to provide arts education to kindergarten through 12th-grade students. This study is divided into 5 chapters; the first chapter introduces the topic of public-private partnerships in arts education and the purpose and significance of the study. The second chapter presents a review of existing literature related to the topic and an introduction of the cooperation and partnership model. Chapter 3 explains how using a qualitative content analysis as a methodological approach was best suited for this type of research.Chapter 4 presents the findings and the different characteristics of collaboration that emerged, which include general practices of successful collaboration; factors contributing to the development of successful collaborations; challenges to establishing and maintaining successful collaborations; and the presence of trust, collegiality, and communication and their effect on success and longevity. Finally, Chapter 5 presents a discussion of the results, the limitations, and recommendations for further research.Item An Examination of Decision Making of Local Elections Officials and Voter Education Programs Throughout the State of California(2018-12) Harris, Jesse ArmonRecent literature fails to confirm significance between direct democracy (participation in local elections and associated voter education and outreach programs) and perception of low voter turnout as a problem (Seabrook, Dyck, & Lascher, 2015). Evidently, empirical evidence is mixed, weak, or non-substantial in identifying inference of bureaucratic management of voter education programs based on perception of low voter turnout. This research study analyzed how local elections officials’ beliefs, experience, and perception of low voter turnout may have shaped their decision-making processes. This research surveyed 72 city clerks in California using a qualitative methods research design based on theoretical themes and concepts found in decision theory and procedural fairness principles. The study suggests that city clerks make decisions concentrated in bounded rationality as opposed to procedural fairness decision-making ideology.Item A Few Good Women: Gender and the Glass Ceiling in the California City Manager Offices(2018-12) Donaghy, CammiePurpose. Glass Ceiling barriers have long been thought substantial reasons why women do not achieve senior-management-level positions. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to investigate the perceptions of women leaders on the potential impact of the glass ceiling on their careers. Furthermore, this study investigates the impact of mentoring and networking on women breaking the glass ceiling. Theoretical Framework. The theoretical framework of this research was rooted in representative bureaucracy theory. This theory proposes that the public sector should be a reflection of the community to ensure that policy and programs are enacted with social equity. Methodology. The methodology used for this research study was qualitative descriptive research with the purpose of describing the impact of the glass ceiling, mentoring, and networking of female city managers in the state of California. The researcher used surveys collected from current female California city managers to determine how the women perceived the impact of the glass ceiling, mentoring, and networking had on their careers. The data were put through statistical analysis to determine internal consistency through Cronbach’s alpha. Findings. Examination of the qualitative data yielded some surprising results. Even though the women reported the glass ceiling as a barrier to their careers, there have also been positive changes in the last 30 years. Furthermore, the respondents also feel that mentoring and networking have had a positive impact on the glass ceiling. Conclusions and Recommendations. This study adds to the body of knowledge by using qualitative data to establish perceptions of the glass ceiling from the point of view of female city managers. Furthermore, it observes the changes in the glass ceiling over the past 30 years. It also confirms the impact of mentoring programs and networking on the careers of women seeking senior-level positions.Item Litigation and the Title IX Coordinator: A Look Into the Effects of Litigation on the 23 CSU System Campuses After Implementation of a Title IX Coordinator(2018-12) Carthen Jackson, MeganSexual misconduct remains among the highest underreported crimes across the nation. Incidents of sexual misconduct at institutions of higher education across the United States continue to be of grave concern as well. Lawsuits for mishandled reports of sexual misconduct by college and university administration as a violation of Title IX continues to draw media attention as litigation presents itself to be a viable method for aggressive institutional and societal change. Title IX law seeks to eliminate, prevent, and remedy instances of sex discrimination in educational activities, programs, and employment and applies to all colleges and universities that receive federal financial assistance. Violation of Title IX law exposes institutions to both litigation and loss of federal funding. In an effort to address institutional compliance with Title IX, the role of the Title IX coordinator was created as a tool of policy implementation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect, if any, of the role of the Title IX coordinator as a method of policy implementation through demonstration of a statistically significant difference in the number of cases of litigation for mishandled reports of sexual misconduct by administration across the 23 CSU System campuses. The study utilized a quantitative quasiexperimental study to analyze the intervention of the 2011 Dear Colleague Letter and publish mandate of a Title IX coordinator in relation to number of cases of Title IX litigation. A paired t test analyzed the number of cases of Title IX litigation across the 23 CSU System campuses 6 years before and 6 years after the 2011 Dear Colleague Letter and published mandate of a Title IX coordinator.Item Cultural Infusiosn in Tribal TANF Programs of California(2018-12) Aguirre-Mendoza, MariaPurpose. The purpose of this study was to examine the inclusion of cultural components in Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program dissemination from the perception of program leadership. Observing the Tribal TANF (TTANF) program models inclusion of culture may be beneficial to the study of public administration in providing a new lens for understanding how to help vulnerable populations. Theoretical Framework. The theoretical framework of this study was based on the research foundations of cultural infusion and representative bureaucracy as seen through the lens of John Kingdon’s policy stream model. Methodology. The ethnography participant observation qualitative methodology was used for this dissertation. The subjects encompass Tribal TANF program directors from Tribal TANF programs located in California who have agreed to engage in telephone and in-person interviews. Findings. Of the 16 possible Tribal TANF programs in California, six Tribal TANF program (TTP) directors chose to participate. The analysis of findings provides a description of how the cultural awareness of TTP directors impacts program practices and services provided to families on their journey of reaching self-sufficiency. Conclusion and Recommendations. This study provides understanding of how TTP directors have been able to infuse culture into program services. Recommendations for further study include (a) to explore specific Native American (NA) TTP participant outcomes of self-sufficiency through a phenomenological or case study source of methodology, (b) to investigate the success of TTP participants in comparison to state TANF participants, and (c) to examine TTP policy in comparison to state TANF program policy.Item Waterproofing Children in Selected California Regions: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study Examining the Data Collection on Fatal and Nonfatal Drownings(2018-12) Hernandez, David AllenData elements collected from drowning submersion forms are not conclusive when attempting to build reliable drowning prevention initiatives based on the statistical data that have been captured in the field. Coinciding with this issue is the fact that data collection reporting systems are deficient in capturing comprehensive data that are being submitted by emergency service agencies at the local and state level. Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related deaths for children less than 5 years of age and third leading cause for children aged 5 to 14 years worldwide. Nonfatal drownings occur at a rate of 5:1 against fatal drownings in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine the data elements collected from submersion forms and investigate how the data are collected, analyzed, and implemented into drowning prevention strategies within the five selected regions in California through participatory action research (PAR). Utilizing a mixed methods approach for data collection, the selected regions submitted their secondary statistical drowning data that were analyzed in order to guide the semistructured interviews with 8 public health administrators and emergency service agents. The findings identified that acceptance of the Utstein-style guidelines for reporting drownings did not match regional submersion forms and the data collection reporting systems utilized are not capturing all of the data. The findings suggested that public health and emergency service agencies seek to build comprehensive data collection and reporting systems collaboratively and seal the gaps that hinder accurate reporting. Further research addresses developing a water safety plan at the state level that provides a foundation for public health agencies to develop effective drowning prevention initiatives in order to reduce the number of drownings.Item The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014: A Comparative Analysis of Alternative Management Plans and Adjudications(2019-03) Cox, Kimberly GoltryThe confluence of an antiquated water rights system, unpredictable supply, and political intervention fostered legislation that became known as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014. The trio of legislation signed into law on September 16, 2014, by Governor Jerry Brown revolutionized an entrenched and fiercely independent management of California’s groundwater. The last western state to adopt comprehensive groundwater management, California was reeling from an epic drought that found many areas without water. Political pressure paved the way for overwhelming support for groundwater governance. Groundwater resources, typically 40% of the annual water supply swelled to 60% during the drought. Excessive pumping of the ungoverned resource in some areas caused wells to go dry, streams and habitats to suffer, and water quality to degrade. The legislation included AB 1739 (Dickinson), SB 1168 (Pavley), and SB 1319 (Pavley), which set forth the framework for groundwater governance highlighted by an historic drought beginning in 2012 and concluding in 2015, 1 year after the legislation was signed into law. The study evaluates the compliance of 2 groundwater groups: Adjudicated groundwater basins and users submitted an alternative management plan attesting to sustainable actions that comply with the new law.Item Toward a Theory of Action Definition for Homeland Security: A Case Study of Federal, State, and Local Leadership Actions During the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill(2019-03) Moland, Mark GerhardHomeland security lacks a consensus definition for the discipline. Government leaders and scholars have proposed a range of definitions that describe the threats, activities, and outcomes of the discipline, but because of changing administrations and changing threats, a consensus definition has yet to emerge. The purpose of this study was to explore the shared understanding of what constitutes “homeland security” as expressed through the actions of federal, state, and local officials during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response of 2010. The theoretical framework of this research was developed from Argyris and Schon’s (1992) articulation of action theory and the double-loop learning model. Action theory suggests that through the observation and analysis of the value-infused behaviors (actions) of a discipline’s practitioners, one can identify a theory of action. This qualitative research employed case study method to analyze the actions of federal, state, and local leaders during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response. The federal, state, and local leaders’ actions were identified from official reports, Congressional testimony, press conference, and news broadcast transcripts and action themes were coded and analyzed. The case study details the challenges faced by federal, state, and local leaders in securing and cleaning up the spill. The study describes the actions of responding leaders and events where federal, state, and local leaders experienced conflict over the right course of action. This research found positive action themes of coordination, communication, sensemaking, leadership, and trust building in the leaders’ actions. This study concludes with a proposed definition of homeland security constructed from the action themes identified in the case study and makes recommendations for the practice and future research.Item Special District Reform: Enhancement or Impediment(2019-05) Appel, StevenSpecial district governments are probably the least understood and seemingly the least studied unit of government. They occupy a unique place in the American government structure and have been described by the Little Hoover Commission as the workhorses of public service delivery and represent the most common form of local government. Critics of special districts cite a lack of efficiency/effectiveness, accountability, and transparency as proof that special districts have something to hide or are outright corrupt. Supporters argue that special districts are not broken and there is no need for broad-brush reforms. This study will advance the discussion of the role special districts play in local government by providing a historical perspective of special districts and by analyzing the merits of two opposing perspectives, institutional reform (traditional public administration) and public choice, through the dimensions of service efficiency/effectiveness and accountability. Using a mixed-methods approach including qualitative and nonexperimental quantitative analysis of various performance indicators from existing data sources, comparisons can be made between smaller local water districts (public choice structure) with larger water districts (reformers optimum structure) to show whether there are any significant differences between the parameters measured. Analysis of the data confirmed that there are no significant differences between small water districts and large water districts in fiscal performance, organizational structure, and customer relations indicators. Additionally, there were no observed differences between small and large water districts and the relationship of board meeting statistics.Item Factors Leading to Civil Unrest in the Wake of Police Lethal Use of Force Incidents: A Tale of Two Cities(2019-05) Austin, George RichardSince August 9, 2014, the day Officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown in the small city of Ferguson, Missouri, large-scale protests after police-involved lethal use of force incidents have become much more prevalent. While there is much academic and public debate on why civil unrest occurs after these unfortunate incidents, there is very little scholarly literature that explores the structure of civil unrest events or literature that attempts to explain why and how peaceful protests turn violent. This dissertation, through exploratory content analysis of extensive after-action reports, provides insight into two instances of civil unrest in the wake of officer-involved lethal use of force incidents: the Minneapolis, Minnesota, civil unrest in the aftermath of the November 15, 2015 shooting of Jamar Clark and the Charlotte, North Carolina, civil unrest in the wake of the September 16, 2016, shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. The study examines the phenomenon of civil unrest from the theoretical frameworks of representative bureaucracy and rational crime theory and utilizes a case study comparison and content analysis research design.Item A Learning Style Group Comparison of Southern California Public School Employees: Investigating the Level of Understanding Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) When Using a Preferred Learning Style Training(2019-08) Galarza, JorgePurpose. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) sponsored training that matches the employee’s learning style preferences increases the level of understanding FERPA protocols. It is hypothesized that if the training style does not match the employees’ preferred learning style, there is the possibility that FERPA policies and procedures are not adequately learned and used, especially when it is appropriate for an employee to reveal or disclose confidential information and when there are exceptions. Theoretical Framework. This study was based on Neil Fleming’s VARK (visual, aural/auditory, read/write, kinesthetic) model. The VARK model states that everyone learns differently, and delivering information about how people learn best will increase content retention. Methodology. A booklet that contained both a VARK questionnaire and a FERPA quiz was used in this study. The VARK questionnaire was used to identify participants’ learning styles. In addition, an audio FERPA training was used as an instrument to test how auditory and nonauditory learners scored on their FERPA quiz. Findings. The data indicate that the auditory learners’ group overall scored much higher than nonauditory learners. Although some individual nonauditory learners score high, this can be the result of different factors. Conclusions and Recommendations. Results indicate that overall auditory participants retained more content and as a result scored high in their FERPA quiz. Future scholars should consider investigating how participants would score if visual, read/write, or kinesthetic training were used instead of auditory materials and examining mixed learners and how one type of training impacts their content retention.Item The Perceived Impact of Peer Support in Addressing Burnout Among 911 Emergency Dispatchers(2019-08) Soria, Pauline Lynn911 Emergency Dispatchers encounter stressful situations and are known to manage life endangering incidents by way of telephone and/or radio. As they are trained to assist the public and the field units, the job they do may result in their own suffering; emotional or psychological trauma, as they hear the sufferings of others. It is time the dispatchers learn good coping mechanisms, find ways to help alleviate the stress of the job, and how to help themselves to realize that what they may be feeling is a normal result from an abnormal situation. The researcher based this dissertation on Emotional Labor Theory. As public servants they are taught to suppress their own emotions in order to align with the culture of the department they work for and the public they serve. This can become stressful for the dispatcher and if not dealt with properly can lead to burnout or worse. Literature will provide information about the benefits a peer support program can be to those who work in stressful situations. Being able to speak to someone who understands the job they do and who can relate, in a non-formal setting has been known to be beneficial. This dissertation is generally seeking to understand the relationship between peer support programs and burnout among 911 emergency dispatchers. The study utilized a non-experimental quantitative research study design. This was done to locate a connection, if there is one, between a peer support program, the perceived effectiveness, and the impact it has in addressing burnout among the 911 emergency dispatchers.Item Hospice Agencies Serving the Cultural Needs of the Hispanic Community(2019-08) Ormonde, MariaThe Medicare Hospice Benefit (MHB) is a national policy that was enacted in 1982 to reduce end-of-life care expenditures and improve quality end of life. Hospice care is of value to all qualifying individuals who have a terminal diagnosis. The focus of hospice is to provide comfort care through pain and symptom management while providing psychosocial and spiritual support. Research reports that the Hispanic population is one of the most underserved populations in healthcare, with hospice care being one of those services. In a study by O’Mara and Zborovskaya (2016), utilization of hospice services was found to amount to 5% among Hispanics. It is projected that by the year 2050, the Hispanic senior population over the age of 65 years of age will increase by 14%. The Hispanic population continues to be one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States. In this study, the researcher explored whether hospice agencies utilize culturally linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) standards while providing hospice services. In addition, she examined whether hospice agencies are promoting social equity, best practices, and cultural competencies and meeting the needs of the underserved communities with specific attention focusing on the Hispanic communities. The theoretical framework used to analyze this study was social equity and its relationship to cultural competence. Much of the hospice expenditure coverage comes from federally-funded Medicare, making the MHB an entitled benefit for many; therefore, it is imperative that the MHB be equitable and accessible to all those who qualify. This study interviewed 2 hospice administrators and 7 hospice social workers. The analyzed data determined that hospice staff personnel felt they were competent in their abilities to serve all populations that are receiving services through their agencies, especially when it comes for servicing the Hispanic populations. However, some agencies recognized the need to implement services for the deaf and blind communities. The researcher has proposed that additional studies guided by the principles of CLAS should be conducted more extensively in order to better meet the needs of the underserved populations, ultimately improving quality end of life.Item Police Leadership in the Wake of Ferguson(2019-08) Chao, JasonThis exploratory study examined leadership approaches taught in leadership and management training programs attended by police managers and executives within the San Gabriel Valley. Specifically, Los Angeles Police Department’s Leadership Program (LAPDLP), Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute (SBSLI), and Command College (management counseling and leadership development) curriculum were examined. The study sought to identify the leadership approaches identified by leaders to be most utilized when considering the Ferguson Effect. The conceptual framework for this study was attribution theory. This was a qualitative and exploratory study; the researcher utilized a phenomenological research design. In the researcher’s study, 11 participants were asked, during a semi-structured interview, 16 questions related to the participant’s leadership training and the phenomenon known as the Ferguson Effect. The population was select law enforcement executives and managers within the San Gabriel Valley.Item Property Tax Policy in the City of Kigali (Rwanda): A Case Study of Policy Implementation(2019-08) Ntayomba, Jean Marie VianneyProblem: The city of Kigali (CoK), the capital city of the Republic of Rwanda, is fast growing in demography and urbanization amid pronounced fiscal challenges. The city, its districts with the support of the central government, is exploring property taxation among other options to improve revenues to develop new infrastructure and modernize those existing. Studies around the world demonstrate that property tax is a hope for every local government. It is stable, reliable, and less subject to inflation as it applies to fixed assets. Nonetheless, studies show that in developing countries, property tax implementation has rarely worked well. Purpose: The purpose of this research was to investigate perceptions and experiences of practitioners and decision makers involved in property tax policy implementation in the city of Kigali from 2003 to 2018 by exploring how policy content (statute and other policy decisions), political acceptability, and institutional capacity impact property tax policy implementation. The ultimate objective was to discern the gap between what is practiced in the city of Kigali and general principles of policy implementation theory and practices as delineated in the literature to generate recommendations for reform. Methodology: Interviews were conducted with tax collectors, local government managers, business community leaders, and civil society organizations. In addition, the study used secondary data analysis. In the process, the investigator has learned that property tax policy implementation is complex, multidisciplinary, and multifaceted. The process implies arduous change management, handling social sensitivity, high economic cost, and the task is politically and managerially demanding. The process requires huge investments of money upfront before revenues start flowing, an issue that many developing countries find difficult to face. Findings and Conclusions: The city of Kigali made tangible progress and learned valuable lessons through trial and errors. Detailed prior planning, cultural dialogue, employing collaborative governance to rally needed expertise, and engaging involved policy and organizations in continual learning are among techniques to improve implementation. In addition, employing participative democracy to rally taxpayers’ support and early involvement of experts in information, communication, and technology can increase policy acceptability and make implementation easier. Recommendation: Above all, it was found that symmetry between policy and culture is a strong element, that fairness of both policy and process of administration are critical, and that the only way to succeed is through collaborative governance.Item Military Retention: Quit Decision-Making Process of Servicewomen(2020-02) Taylor, Julian VincentThis qualitative grounded theory study examined the decision-making process of female U.S. military veterans who chose to leave active duty service and who are civilian federal employees with the Department of Defense (DOD). To date, the military community continues to experience widespread voluntary turnover of its female workforce who are critical to the mission readiness and functional capability of the armed forces. Understanding of consistent voluntary turnover remains limited in the literature and does not sufficiently explain the organizational exit behavior of servicewomen. Data were collected through semistructured interviews involving 15 female veterans of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force military branches. From participants’ rich descriptions, the researcher developed a narrative to understand the process of withdrawing from military service. By using a synthesis grounded theory design to analyze data, the basic social psychological process (BSPP) opportunity cost (a commonly shared problem among research participants) was identified (Wilson & Hutchinson, 1996). Moreover, the basic social process (BSP) emerged as a 3-stage process that explained servicewomen’s decision-making process when leaving the military. The 3 stages include (a) motivational interests, (b) influential factors and experiences, and (c) psychological impacts. The findings of this study may contribute to the limited military turnover and retention literature as well as extend the knowledge of government officials, military leadership, and public administration practitioners concerned with female exit behavior. Recommendations for future research are provided.
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