UMD Theses and Dissertations
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/3
New submissions to the thesis/dissertation collections are added automatically as they are received from the Graduate School. Currently, the Graduate School deposits all theses and dissertations from a given semester after the official graduation date. This means that there may be up to a 4 month delay in the appearance of a given thesis/dissertation in DRUM.
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Item INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS IN NONPROFIT UNIVERSITY: A PROJECT GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE(2016) Ghosh, Soumajit; Cui, Qingbin; Civil Engineering; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The universities rely on the Information Technology (IT) projects to support and enhance their core strategic objectives of teaching, research, and administration. The researcher’s literature review found that the level of IT funding and resources in the universities is not adequate to meet the IT demands. The universities received more IT project requests than they could execute. As such, universities must selectively fund the IT projects. The objectives of the IT projects in the universities vary. An IT project which benefits the teaching functions may not benefit the administrative functions. As such, the selection of an IT project is challenging in the universities. To aid with the IT decision making, many universities in the United States of America (USA) have formed the IT Governance (ITG) processes. ITG is an IT decision making and accountability framework whose purpose is to align the IT efforts in an organization with its strategic objectives, realize the value of the IT investments, meet the expected performance criteria, and manage the risks and the resources (Weil & Ross, 2004). ITG in the universities is relatively new, and it is not well known how the ITG processes are aiding the nonprofit universities in selecting the right IT projects, and managing the performance of these IT projects. This research adds to the body of knowledge regarding the IT project selection under the governance structure, the maturity of the IT projects, and the IT project performance in the nonprofit universities. The case study research methodology was chosen for this exploratory research. The convenience sampling was done to choose the cases from two large, research universities with decentralized colleges, and two small, centralized universities. The data were collected on nine IT projects from these four universities using the interviews and the university documents. The multi-case analysis was complemented by the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to systematically analyze how the IT conditions lead to an outcome. This research found that the IT projects were selected in the centralized universities in a more informed manner. ITG was more authoritative in the small centralized universities; the ITG committees were formed by including the key decision makers, the decision-making roles, and responsibilities were better defined, and the frequency of ITG communication was higher. In the centralized universities, the business units and colleges brought the IT requests to ITG committees; which in turn prioritized the IT requests and allocated the funds and the resources to the IT projects. ITG committee members in the centralized universities had a higher awareness of the university-wide IT needs, and the IT projects tended to align with the strategic objectives. On the other hand, the decentralized colleges and business units in the large universities were influential and often bypassed the ITG processes. The decentralized units often chose the “pet” IT projects, and executed them within a silo, without bringing them to the attention of the ITG committees. While these IT projects met the departmental objectives, they did not always align with the university’s strategic objectives. This research found that the IT project maturity in the university could be increased by following the project management methodologies. The IT project management maturity was found higher in the IT projects executed by the centralized university, where a full-time project manager was assigned to manage the project, and the project manager had a higher expertise in the project management. The IT project executed under the guidance of the Project Management Office (PMO) has exhibited a higher project management maturity, as the PMO set the standards and controls for the project. The IT projects managed by the decentralized colleges by a part-time project manager with lower project management expertise have exhibited a lower project management maturity. The IT projects in the decentralized colleges were often managed by the business, or technical leads, who often lacked the project management expertise. This research found that higher the IT project management maturity, the better is the project performance. The IT projects with a higher maturity had a lower project delay, lower number of missed requirements, and lower number of IT system errors. This research found that the quality of IT decision in the university could be improved by centralizing the IT decision-making processes. The IT project management maturity could be improved by following the project management methodologies. The stakeholder management and communication were found critical for the success of the IT projects in the university. It is hoped that the findings from this research would help the university leaders make the strategic IT decisions, and the university’s IT project managers make the IT project decisions.Item Listening to Student Voices: A Case Study on the Basic Communication Course(2012) Cohen, Steven D; Wolvin, Andrew D; Communication; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)This exploratory case study examines undergraduate student perceptions of the basic communication course. Given that past studies of U.S. basic communication courses rely largely on data from faculty members and administrators, we know relatively little about how students perceive their course-related experiences. The present study helps address this gap in the literature by exploring what students perceive to be the strengths of the course, the shortcomings of the course, and the changes that ought to be made to the course. Through an analysis of student perspectives, this study adds a critical "voice" to the conversation about the state of the basic communication course. This study focuses on the summer 2012 sections of "Oral Communication: Principles and Practices," the basic communication course at the University of Maryland. As part of the study, I conducted 21 semi-structured interviews with students in three different sections. I then used the constant comparison approach within grounded theory to analyze how students made meaning of their course-related experiences. The data analysis process led to the emergence of several important themes. The data revealed five key strengths of the course: small class size; guided practice opportunities; real-world applicability; opportunities for self-reflection; and a focus on the public speaking process. Additionally, the data revealed five key shortcomings of the course: unclear link among course components; lack of differentiated section offerings; insufficient focus on public speaking; unclear assignment expectations; and the design of the interview unit. Finally, the data revealed five key changes that ought to be made to the course: allocate class time to most important topics; offer additional speaking opportunities; integrate technology into course components; enhance opportunities for presentation feedback; and expand the focus on group dynamics. This study makes numerous scholarly and practical contributions. On a macro level, it suggests that interviewing may help administrators form a more complete understanding of students' course-related experiences. Moreover, the study discusses the potential of two alternate course formats: the blended approach and the modular approach. On a micro level, this study captures a variety of student perspectives on how best to handle specific elements of the course.Item Early Urban Field Experiences for Prospective Teachers: A Case Study of Multicultural Field Placements Through a University-based Preservice STEM Teacher Program(2011) Segal, Eden Heather; Selden, Steven; Education Policy, and Leadership; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Educational and political leaders have expressed concern about racial and ethnic disparities in students' readiness for postsecondary study and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). A lack of preparedness of STEM teachers in high-need urban districts, which serve predominantly low-income minority students, is often associated with poor student outcomes. Programs emphasizing multicultural or culturally responsive teacher education are among the initiatives that have been developed to address inequalities. In particular, early field experiences for prospective teachers in high-need districts merit closer study. This research used a multiple case study approach to examine two field placements facilitated by a privately endowed STEM teacher education program for prospective teachers at a public mid-Atlantic university through partnerships with educational groups. It explored how two placements--at a public charter school serving grades 5 through 8 (PCS) and a college preparatory program for high school students (Summer College)--reflected nine principles of good practice put forth by Multicultural Preservice Teacher Education Project (MPTEP). Data consisted of interviews, observations at PCS, and document review, and were analyzed using matrices derived from the MPTEP principles. These nine principles, five related to preservice teacher preparation activities and three related to desired outcomes, were reflected to varying degrees in placements at PCS. One principle was not evident; participants did not appear to examine identities as part of the placements. There was also countervailing evidence of several elements. For example, placements did not appear to extend into the community or involve community-based teacher educators. Three principles regarding activities and two related to desired outcomes were reflected in placements at Summer College, but the four others were not and the data collected were weak in some areas. This research can help us better understand early urban field placements and how they may affect participants' readiness and interest in teaching at high-need urban schools. The study offers information to practitioners seeking to use urban field experiences to help prepare teachers for urban schools as part of efforts to improve student outcomes in STEM subjects. The study also suggests use of the MPTEP principles for future research.Item A Case Analysis of a Model Program for the Leadership Development of Women Faculty and Staff Seeking to Advance Their Careers in Higher Education(2011) Calizo, Lee Scherer Hawthorne; Komives, Susan R; Counseling and Personnel Services; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The purpose of this case study was to explore a model of leadership development for women faculty and staff in higher education. This study is significant because it explored the only identified campus-based program open to both faculty and staff. The campus-based Women's Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) program at the University of Cincinnati evolved over a few years and became a regionally-based program subsequently called the Higher Education Collaborative (HEC). These two programs at the University of Cincinnati served as the foci of this case study research. Using methods consistent with case study research, I interviewed six past participants of the programs (three from each), plus the program coordinator, and several other campus administrators. Document reviews were conducted on marketing materials, progress reports, websites, budgets, status of women reports, and other documents found in university archives. A focus group was conducted with the primary informants of the study as a way to check identified themes with the participants. Findings suggest that elements of the leadership development programs did have influence on the participants in terms of their leadership self-efficacy, career aspirations and career paths. A comparison of the WILD and HEC programs suggest that the regionally-based HEC provided a solid opportunity for skill development and training, while the campus-based WILD program excelled at providing opportunities for participants to develop meaningful relationships and gain insights into the operations of the University. Participants in the HEC program engaged in the experience to learn about ways to advance in their careers, unlike the women in WILD who participated in order to be better in their current positions. WILD alumnae had changed positions, taking on more responsibilities and in some cases higher ranking titles since participating in the program. It was too soon to tell the career path implications for the HEC participants. Other universities wishing to create a pipeline for women to advance into leadership can learn from the University of Cincinnati. Elements of both the WILD and HEC programs serve as valuable models for creating effective leadership development opportunities for women. Making sure women understand the purpose of an all-women experience is an important component that was missing from the UC programs.Item A Case Study of Online Peer Coaching of Consultant Communication Skill Development(2010) Wizda, Lorraine; Rosenfield, Sylvia; Counseling and Personnel Services; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)ABSTRACT Title of Dissertation: A CASE STUDY OF ONLINE PEER COACHING OF CONSULTANT COMMUNICATION SKILL DEVELOPMENT Lorraine L. Wizda, Doctor of Philosophy, 2010 Dissertation directed by: Professor Sylvia Rosenfield School Psychology Program The purpose of the this study was to explore how peer coaches support the development of collaborative communication skills in an online format for consultants in training (CITs). The program examined was Instructional Consultation which pairs a consultant with a teacher to work collaboratively to resolve the teacher's concern regarding a student. The focus is on improving instruction and modifying environmental variables. The study was approached using case study methodology. Research questions were: (a) how do online peer coaches support the development of collaborative communication skills in CITs and (b) what skills were selected most frequently by the CITs as focus skills? Transcripts of the email exchanges between the coaches and CITs which include self-reflection by the CIT and structured feedback from the coach are the data used. results show that the coaches use targeted feedback, examples, practical suggestions, and modeling collaborative language to support the development of CIT skills. Not all of the CITs consistently identified a focus skill (a skill they request specific feedback on from the coach). Collaborative communication skills were selected more frequently in the early stages of the process while more content related concerns were selected toward the end of the process. The findings provide a better understanding of how collaborative communication skills are supported in an online format and provide direction for future research.