Date

5-20-2026

Department

Graduate School of Business

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Organization and Management (PhD)

Chair

Joseph Elledge

Keywords

Leadership adaptation, strategic decision-making, organizational performance

Disciplines

Leadership Studies

Abstract

This research examined the influence of leadership adaptation, leadership competencies, and strategic decision-making on organizational productivity and performance in the United States public sector. It addressed the challenge of leaders’ limited capacity to adapt effectively to evolving organizational environments, which may lead to diminished production quality and lower employee performance. The objective of this mixed-methods study was to investigate how leadership behaviors can be modified to improve organizational outcomes and to identify essential competencies that enhance performance. A convergent mixed-methods design was employed to integrate qualitative and quantitative data. The qualitative component consisted of semi-structured interviews with eight leaders. The quantitative component used the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), which was completed by 10 leaders and eight employees, yielding a total sample of 26 participants. Qualitative data were analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding, generating approximately 65 initial codes, which were consolidated into three primary themes: leadership adaptation and response to change, strategic decision-making and leadership competence, and organizational performance and productivity outcomes. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (MindGarden Inc.) and compared with established MLQ benchmarks. The findings indicate that adaptive leadership behaviors, including flexible decision-making, transparent communication, emotional intelligence, and proactive planning, are essential for sustaining performance and preventing productivity decline.

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