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    CIOS’ TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS IN COMMUNITY

    COLLEGES: A COMPARISON-BASED APPROACH TO IMPROVING JOB

    SATISFACTION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WORKERS

    by

    Mahmoud S. Abouelenein

    A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment

    of the Requirements for the Degree

    Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership

    UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX

    May 2012

     

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     All rights reserved

    INFORMATION TO ALL USERSThe quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted.

    In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscriptand there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed,

    a note will indicate the deletion.

    Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against

    unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code

    ProQuest LLC.789 East Eisenhower Parkway

    P.O. Box 1346

     Ann Arbor, MI 48106 - 1346

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    Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author.

    UMI Number: 3535722 

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    © 2012 by Mahmoud AboueleneinALL RIGHTS RESERVED

     

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    ABSTRACT

    The purpose of this quantitative, descriptive research study was to determine, through

    statistical analysis, any correlation between the perceived transformational leadership

    traits of CIOs at two-year community colleges in Kansas and measures of the job

    satisfaction among IT workers at those community colleges. The objectives of this

    research project were to help fill the gap in the body of knowledge about the growing

    number of employees of technology in higher education, and arm community college

    leaders with the information needed to better serve staff, and more positively affect

    employee experiences, leading to improved campus-based outcomes. Four research

    questions were used in this examination. These research questions included the extent to

    which Kansas-based community college CIOs are perceived as transformational leaders,

    whether information technology workers of Kansas-based community colleges express

    satisfaction with their jobs, how job satisfaction ratings of those IT workers compare to

    national norms, and the extent to which workers’ job satisfaction correlates with

    perceptions of the CIOs’ transformational leadership behaviors. The research methods

    employed included: (a) defining the variables, (b) the ethical collection of data, (c)

    aligning statistical hypotheses with the research questions, and (d) calculating appropriate

    t-tests and Pearson product moment correlation coefficients (r ), and conducting ANOVA

    analyses. The results of this research suggested that CIOs were perceived to display

    transformational leadership behavior similar to national norms; workers expressed overall

     job satisfaction, but were not satisfied with opportunities for promotion, and were

    ambivalent about pay; and a positive relationship between transformational leadership

    behavior and workers’ job satisfaction was identified.

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    v

    DEDICATION

    This dissertation is dedicated with love and affection to my daughters, Ameerah

    and Maya Abouelenein, who inspire me with their vibrancy and energy. Ameerah told

    me recently, “Papa, you have been writing since I was a baby.” She was right, literally!

    And to my dad, who always had faith in my potential. Simply, he was the kindest,

    cleverest, and the greatest hero a son can hope for.

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    vi

    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

    Completing this dissertation and earning a doctorate degree is a life-long goal that

    fulfills the dream of two men: my dad and me. Growing up in a household that put a lot

    of emphasis on the importance of education, I always had the privilege of being

    surrounded by supportive parents who sacrificed their own lives for their children. Such

    unconditional support and sacrifice empowered me to overcome the fear that somewhere

    along the way I would possibly fail to earn a Ph.D. Now that I am at this stage, I must

    start by expressing my deepest appreciation and gratitude to my parents, Laila and Salah

    Abouelenein. Thank you, mom and dad! I am forever indebted to you!

    I was fortunate to have a great team of people who helped me turn this

    dissertation into its final form. I greatly appreciate the support and ideas from Dr. Jay

    Klagge, committee chair, and the rest of committee members, Dr. Ify Diala and Dr. Greg

    Worden, for their suggestions to improve the research and for helping me get to the finish

    line. You all were great advisors and guides! I am also grateful to Dr. Diane Nixon

    (George), who believed in the vision and importance of this research study and helped me

    improve my work in a number of ways. Diane, your thoughtful comments and insights

    were indispensable in developing the proposal and getting it approved by IRB. I greatly

    appreciate your support and wisdom. Julie Tenenbaum, my editor, was incredibly skilled

    at helping me organize my thoughts into coherent chapters.

    Several friends helped immensely by offering words of encouragement and by

    reviewing drafts of this dissertation, including Dr. Charles Wilson, Dr. Ben Hayes, Mr.

    Brian Bode, Mr. Lee Tigue, Mrs. Regina Smith, Ms. Risala Allen, and many others. I

    also would like to express my sincere appreciation to few individuals who, intentionally

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    or unintentionally, put obstacles in my path. Their presence in my life made me a better

    and stronger person.

    Additionally, I would like to acknowledge myself for making it to the finish line.

    Completing the academic work to earn a doctorate degree was a huge undertaking in the

    context of a life filled with challenges both at home and work. I managed to successfully

    complete the required work, and I am proud of my accomplishment.

    And one more thing! My everlasting gratitude and appreciation go out to my

    spiritual teacher and role model, Steven Paul Jobs. We never met in person; however, his

    work and legacy in this life have influenced me in a very deep sense both personally and

    professionally. Thank you, Steve!

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    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................... xii 

    LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................ xiii 

    CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .............................................................................. 1 

    Background of the Problem ................................................................................ 2 

    Statement of the Problem .................................................................................... 5 

    Purpose of the Study ........................................................................................... 7 

    Significance of the Study .................................................................................... 8 

    Nature of the Study ............................................................................................. 9 

    Research Questions ........................................................................................... 12 

    Hypotheses ........................................................................................................ 12 

    Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................... 14 

    Definition of Terms .......................................................................................... 16 

    Scope of the Study ............................................................................................ 18 

    Assumptions ..................................................................................................... 18 

    Limitations and Delimitations .......................................................................... 19 

    Summary ........................................................................................................... 20 

    CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE .................................................. 23 

    Community Colleges ........................................................................................ 24 

    History of Community Colleges .................................................................. 24 

    Role of Information Technology in Community Colleges .......................... 27 

    Community College IT Workers ................................................................. 28 

    Leadership ......................................................................................................... 30 

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    Leadership Definition .................................................................................. 31 

    Leadership Theories ..................................................................................... 32 

    Transformational Leadership ....................................................................... 33 

    The Chief Information Officer (CIO) ............................................................... 34 

    Strategist/Futurist ......................................................................................... 36 

    Change Agent............................................................................................... 36 

    Project Manager ........................................................................................... 37 

    Resource Allocator....................................................................................... 37 

    Policy Maker ................................................................................................ 38 

    Job Satisfaction ................................................................................................. 38 

    Theories of Job Satisfaction ......................................................................... 39 

    Job Satisfaction in Community Colleges ..................................................... 42 

    Job Satisfaction of IT Workers .................................................................... 42 

    Transformational Leadership and Job Satisfaction ........................................... 44 

    Gaps in Literature ............................................................................................. 47 

    Summary ........................................................................................................... 48 

    CHAPTER 3: METHOD ......................................................................................... 49 

    Research Design and Appropriateness ............................................................. 49 

    Research Questions ........................................................................................... 51 

    Hypotheses ........................................................................................................ 52 

    Population and Sampling .................................................................................. 53 

    Instrument ......................................................................................................... 55 

    Instrument Validity and Reliability .................................................................. 56 

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    Data Collection ................................................................................................. 58 

    Informed Consent and Confidentiality ............................................................. 58 

    Data Analysis .................................................................................................... 62 

    Summary ........................................................................................................... 63 

    CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS .......................................................................... 64 

    Data Collection Process .................................................................................... 65 

    Data Cleaning and Coding ................................................................................ 67 

    Hypotheses Testing ........................................................................................... 68 

    Hypothesis 1................................................................................................. 68 

    Hypothesis 2................................................................................................. 69 

    Hypothesis 3................................................................................................. 80 

    Hypothesis 4................................................................................................. 82 

    Summary ........................................................................................................... 86 

    CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................. 88 

    Findings ............................................................................................................ 88 

    Research Question 1 .................................................................................... 89 

    Research Question 2 .................................................................................... 89 

    Research Question 3 .................................................................................... 92 

    Research Question 4 .................................................................................... 93 

    Recommendations ............................................................................................. 93 

    Further Research ............................................................................................... 97 

    Discussion ....................................................................................................... 101 

    Summary ......................................................................................................... 105 

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    REFERENCES ...................................................................................................... 107 

    APPENDIX A: LIST OF PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY COLLEGES ........ 120 

    APPENDIX B: DOCUMENTATION OF THE LITERATURE .......................... 121 

    APPENDIX C: HERZBERG’S MOTIVATION HYGIENE THEORY ............... 122 

    APPENDIX D: JOB CHARACTERISTICS MODEL .......................................... 123 

    APPENDIX E: MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS..................................... 124 

    APPENDIX F: JDI/JIG PERMISSION FORM AND SAMPLE .......................... 125 

    APPENDIX G: MLQ PERMISSION FORM AND SAMPLE ............................. 127 

    APPENDIX H: EMAIL TO PROSPECTIVE PARTICIPANTS .......................... 129 

    APPENDIX I: INFORMED CONSENT FORM ................................................... 130 

    APPENDIX J: CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT .......................................... 132 

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    LIST OF TABLES

    Table 1. Characteristics of Transformational Leaders........................................... 34

    Table 2.  Results of MLQ Rater Survey .................................................................... 70

    Table 3. Sample Results for the Abridged JDI/JIG Surveys ................................... 71

    Table 4.  Abridged JDI/JIG Survey Response Results ............................................. 73

    Table 5.  National Abridged JDI/JIG Comparisons to Study Sample ..................... 81

    Table 6. College Worker Abridged JDI/JIG Comparisons to Study Sample .......... 81

    Table 7.  Linear Regression Model Summary (b) and ANOVA Results .................. 84

    Table 8. Summary of Coefficients (a) ..................................................................... 84

    Table 9.  Documentation of the Literature............................................................. 121

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    LIST OF FIGURES

    Figure 1. Willingness to Participate among IT Workers ......................................... 65

    Figure 2. Abridged Job In General (JIG) Sample Survey Results ........................... 74

    Figure 3. Abridged JDI Sample Survey Results, “Opportunities for

    Promotions” Facet ................................................................................................... 74

    Figure 4. Abridged JDI Sample Survey Results, “Pay” Facet  ................................ 75

    Figure 5. Abridged JDI Sample Survey Results, “People on Present Job” Facet  .. 76

    Figure 6. Abridged JDI Sample Survey Results, “Work on Present Job” Facet  ..... 77

    Figure 7. Abridged JDI Sample Survey Results, “Supervision” Facet  .................... 78

    Figure 8. Abridged JDI/JIG Sample Satisfaction Ratings, N=44 ............................ 79

    Figure 9. Relationship of Transformational Leadership to Job Satisfaction ........... 85

    Figure 10. Normal P-Plot of Regression Standardized Residual  ........................... 86

    Figure A1.  Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory ............................................. 122

    Figure A2.  Hackman & Oldham Job Characteristics Model ............................... 123

    Figure A3.  Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs ............................................................ 124

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    1

    CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

    Information Technology (IT) has become an essential pillar in almost every

    business operation, from multinational to home-based, small-sized, and entrepreneurial

    companies. As the complexity and subtle functions of technology have recently

    increased in higher education, so has the demand for professionals who can manage and

    strategize the role that information technology plays in two-year community colleges.

    Across a variety of industries, Chief Information Officers (CIOs) are now responsible for

    leading information technology functions of their organizations. Brown (2006) posited

    that CIOs in higher education play a pivotal role in solidifying the relationship and

    “bridging any communication and action gap between the organization and Information

    Technology” (p. 49). Expected to accomplish more with less, CIOs in two-year

    community colleges face many challenges, one of which is how to improve and sustain

     job satisfaction among Information Technology workers.

    Leadership is considered an essential component of community college

    environments. CIOs can influence Information Technology workers through their

    leadership behaviors and traits. Consequently, CIOs must exhibit certain leadership

    behaviors and traits that foster an environment that boosts Information Technology

    workers’ job satisfaction. Through an effective worker-leader relationship between CIOs

    and Information Technology workers, two-year community colleges can better serve

    students and achieve strategic goals. Previous research shows that a transformational

    leadership style may have a positive influence on IT workers’ organizational commitment

    and job satisfaction, which may then improve IT workers’ implementation of community

    college information technology applications (Chen, 2004; Sparks & Schenk, 2001).

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    Background of the Problem

    A community college is “any institution regionally accredited to award the

    associate in arts or the associate in science as its highest degree” (Cohen & Brawer, 2009,

    p. 5). Community colleges may be private, non-profit, or for-profit. Community colleges

    may also be government-funded. Cohen and Brawer (2009) posited that community

    colleges were founded on the pressing need for higher education beyond secondary

    education in the early 1900s. As costs for traditional four-year universities continue to

    skyrocket, transfer among academic institutions offers a financial advantage for students

    when they start at a lower-cost community college and later transfer academic credits to

    universities as junior-level students (Shannon & Smith, 2006). Franco (2002) described

    community colleges:

    America’s 1,166 community colleges represent a higher education movement,

    enrolling 5.4 million ethnically and age diverse students, 44 percent of all U.S.

    undergraduates, 45 percent of first-time freshmen, 46 percent of Black, 55 percent

    of Hispanic, 46 percent of Asian/Pacific Islander, and 55 percent of Native

    American undergraduate students…the average age of community college

    students is 29…community colleges will increasingly become the access point to

    higher education for lower and perhaps middle-income students. (p. 324)

    The last decade brought even more growth and diversity to community college

    campuses. According to the American Association of Community Colleges (2011), the

    number of students enrolled in community colleges in the United States grew to 6.5

    million in 2005 and almost doubled to 12.4 million students in 2011. As attendance is

    growing, the costs of attending are similarly escalating. Community colleges are

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    complex, with increasingly diverse enrollments, decreasing funds which lead to

    increasing costs, and increasing outcome expectations. Technology paves the way and

    assists community colleges in meeting the challenge of serving a diverse student body

    effectively. “The new way of doing things makes the information technologies more

    valuable, and the new and better technologies make the new ways of doing things more

    possible” (Friedman, 2007, p. 178). Information technology not only helps to automate

    processes, but helps to shape organizations and facilitate the creation and maintenance of

    relationships among employees, leadership, stakeholders, and the students that the

    colleges serve (Ball, Weaver, & Kiel, 2004).

    Burns (1978) was among the first researchers to distinguish between transactional

    and transformational leadership, characterizing transformational leadership as a model in

    which leaders and followers operate in greater levels of morality and motivation.

    Transformational leaders use a four-step process to influence their followers (Kouzes &

    Posner, 2003; Senge, 2006; Shamir, House & Arthur, 1993). The leader must first

    articulate a shared vision that enables personnel to obtain higher levels of job satisfaction,

    motivation, loyalty, productivity, and clarity about the organization’s goals. Second, the

    leader communicates performance expectations and expresses confidence in the

    followers. Third, the leader exemplifies the values and attributes desired. Fourth, the

    leader reinforces the positive behaviors that are new and have not been commonly

    practiced.

    Recent studies have identified factors that influence IT worker job satisfaction,

    which also relates to employee turnover. Ghapanchi and Aurum (2010) classified these

    determinants as individual, organizational, job-related, psychological, and environmental.

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    McKnight, Philips, and Hardgrave (2009) studied job security, reward fairness, team

    information sharing, and trust in senior leadership. Role ambiguity, role conflict, work

    exhaustion, and work-family conflict have also been studied in relation to aspects of IT

    personnel job satisfaction (Allen, Armstrong, Reid, & Riemenschneider, 2008; Calisir,

    Gumussoy, & Iskin, 2009).

    Examining and studying technology leaders such as CIOs in higher education can

    be a source of human inspiration (Bhardwaj & Monin, 2006), competitive advantage

    (Bakker & Schaufeli, 2008), individual well-being, and organizational effectiveness

    (Lim, 2008). Throughout several earlier studies of worker-leader relationships,

    transformational leadership behaviors have been shown to have the potential to exert a

    strong and positive influence on organizational commitment and job satisfaction, intrinsic

    motivation, and goal commitment (Al-Hussami, 2008; Brooke, 2011; Chen, 2004; Lok &

    Crawford, 2004; Piccolo & Colquitt, 2006; Viator, 2001; Walumbwa, Orwa, Wang, &

    Lawler, 2005; Walumbwa, Wang, Lawler, & Shi, 2004). Although studies have been

    performed on job satisfaction, transformational leadership, IT workers, and community

    college staff, there is a lack of published research with a focus on all of these elements

    together.

    This research study examined the relationship between those transformational

    leadership behaviors of community college CIOs that are perceived by IT workers and

    the IT workers’ expressed job satisfaction. The study focused on the potential of

    transformational leadership qualities to maximize community college Information

    Technology workers’ job satisfaction, thereby adding information from the outcomes of

    the rigorous data analysis to the published literature on the background of the topic.

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    Statement of the Problem

    IT personnel have become a vital element in ensuring the efficient and effective

    use of technology (U.S. Department of Labor, 2009). With the level of rapid change and

    high volatility in the visible, often competitive environment in which two-year

    community colleges now operate, information technology operations have become

    critical to the overall operation of these institutions. With the exponentially increased use

    of technology, particularly in education, two-year community colleges rely on their IT

    personnel to maintain and implement appropriate technology to provide proper resources

    to staff, faculty, and students. IT personnel at these institutions are now utilized more

    than ever to provide around-the-clock support for the various systems that serve their

    constituents’ computing needs.

    At the same time, community colleges are beginning to experience higher

    turnover rates in both staff and leadership (Klein & Takeda-Tinker, 2009). Employers,

    particularly in higher education, are challenged to find the optimum balance between

    hiring new employees and retaining current employees. Luftman (2008) argued that

    attracting, developing, and retaining staff is the most important task of IT managers and

    executives. The use of new employees often results in incurring employment expenses;

    additionally, the transition phase required could lead to larger expenses and delays in

    productivity, compared to maximizing the potential of current employees (Mitchell,

    Holtom, & Lee, 2001).

    Failed leadership behavior is linked to poor performance, low morale,

    absenteeism, and employee turnover among IT workers across diverse fields. Poor

    performance, low morale, absenteeism, and employee turnover may be related to the

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    level of overall IT workers’ job satisfaction and may be influenced by leadership

    behaviors (Bakker & Schaufeli, 2008; Bhardwaj & Monin, 2006; Lim, 2008). Low levels

    of job satisfaction among staff can impede the mission of community colleges and can

    incur significant costs (Klein & Takeda-Tinker, 2009).

    Job satisfaction and effective leadership are important elements in improving the

    quality of education that community colleges provide learners. Leadership must be able

    to relate to staff needs, and staff must be satisfied with their jobs, or retaining them may

    be difficult. If college staff show low job satisfaction levels, the quality of education may

    suffer (Klein & Takeda-Tinker, 2009).

    A growing percentage of the workforce in the United States is employed in an IT

    environment, and the IT workforces of community colleges are expanding in similar

    proportion. However, there does not appear to be a sufficient amount of literature

    available that documents how leaders manage IT employees, especially in a community

    college environment (Scharff, 2005). There is a lack of knowledge regarding the

    relationship between leadership behaviors and the job satisfaction of IT workers in

    community college IT departments. Chief Information Officers and technology leaders,

    in general, must demonstrate management skills capable of successfully leading IT

    employees through complicated, costly, and complex institutional initiatives. However,

    some researchers have noted the possibility of a growing ambivalence among IT workers

    that could stem from the relationship between IT workers and IT leaders. The problem is

    that there is a lack of knowledge regarding the leadership behaviors of community

    college CIOs as perceived by IT workers. The relationship of those leadership behaviors

    and traits to IT workers’ job satisfaction is unknown (Brown, 2006; Green, 2007).

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    Purpose of the Study

    The purpose of this quantitative, descriptive research study was to determine,

    through statistical analysis, any correlation between the perceived transformational

    leadership traits of CIOs at two-year community colleges in Kansas, and measures of the

     job satisfaction among IT workers at those community colleges. The research on the

    relationship of higher education IT workers’ perceptions of the CIOs’ transformational

    leadership behavior on their job satisfaction helped to fill the gap of knowledge and better

    informed stakeholders of ways that the leadership-worker relationship can be improved.

    This study provided a possibility of greater understanding of CIOs’

    transformational leadership behaviors that could help two-year community colleges

    ensure that their IT workers and their leaders have the best chance at successfully

    achieving and supporting the goals of the institution. Hogue and Dodd (2006) contended

    that the CIO in higher education institutions must transform the information technology

    unit on campus into a “strategic organization” aimed at meeting current and future needs

    of constituents (p. 49). The concerns of college trustees, administrators, and the general

    public traditionally relate to improving student outcomes and cost effectiveness.

    Hagedorn (2000) claimed that positive outcomes and cost effectiveness can be achieved

    only when the job satisfaction of all of those employed by the college is considered and

    improved. Effective leadership behaviors and traits could be found to enhance job

    satisfaction of information technology workers, and therefore reduce poor performance,

    low morale, absenteeism, and employee turnover. Enhanced job satisfaction of

    community college information technology workers could improve the effective

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    application of information technologies, positively affecting almost all aspects of the

    college.

    The objective of this research project was to provide an examination of the

    perceived leadership behavior factors that may influence the level of job satisfaction

    among information technology workers. This study fills the gap in the body of

    knowledge about the growing number of employees of technology in higher education. It

    arms community college leaders with the information needed to better serve staff and

    more positively affect employee experiences, leading to improved campus-based

    outcomes.

    Significance of the Study

    Historically, the relationship between leadership styles and workers’ job

    satisfaction has been studied. In the college setting, many research studies had been

    conducted on faculty job satisfaction in relationship to leadership behaviors. In other

    industries, such as healthcare, retail, and manufacturing, leadership behavior was studied

    in relation to job satisfaction and employee retention. Understanding what causes job

    satisfaction or dissatisfaction among community college staff can be important to

    ensuring continued success of two-year colleges (Klein & Takeda-Tinker, 2009).

    “Employee job satisfaction is of critical importance … it influences key employee-related

    aspects such as absenteeism and turnover. Good leaders understand the importance of

     job satisfaction and make conscious interventions to improve job satisfaction” (Nayab,

    2011, para. 13).

    Job satisfaction and effective leadership are important to improving the quality of

    education that community colleges provide learners. Hagedorn (2000) noted that job

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    satisfaction should be a primary concern of collegiate managers and leaders. Retaining

    employees is a paramount concern for all businesses, and educational organizations are

    not exempt from the implications stemming from staff job satisfaction. However,

    research has not focused on community college information technology leadership. In

    the educational arena, “discerning the relationship of leadership style on job satisfaction

    is of paramount concern” (Brooke, 2011, para. 2).

    This study offered an opportunity to add to the body of knowledge associated

    with the influence of transformational leadership on the job satisfaction of community

    college information technology workers. It addressed the problem of the unknown

    influences of community college IT workers’ perceptions of their CIOs’ leadership

    behaviors on IT workers’ job satisfaction. The data gathered through validated

    questionnaires and subsequent analysis helped identify those types of leadership

    behaviors and characteristics that could contribute positively to IT workers’ job

    satisfaction in a two-year community college. Through more knowledge about the

    relationship of leadership behaviors and job satisfaction, the job satisfaction of

    community college information technology workers may be improved. Improved job

    satisfaction positively affects employees’ performance, boosts morale among employees,

    reduces absenteeism, and improves employees’ retention. Improved work performance,

    morale, and retention enables community colleges to better serve students, reduce costs,

    and demonstrate greater levels of successful accountability to their stakeholders.

    Nature of the Study

    The research study was quantitative because the variables were measurable.

    Quantitative research is an appropriate application to a problem that requires that variable

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    relationships be explained (Cooper & Schindler, 2011; Creswell, 2008). Numerous peer-

    reviewed research studies based on the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and

    the Job Descriptive Index (JDI) survey with the Job in General Scale (JIG) have been

    published using quantitative statistical analyses to examine relationships and associations.

    The validated Job Descriptive Index survey and the Job in General (JIG) Scale

    have been used to examine workers’ expressed satisfaction with their job, providing a

    neutral point or feeling of ambivalence concerning job satisfaction and indicators for

    satisfaction or dissatisfaction. The Abridged Job Descriptive Index and Abridged Job in

    General are shorter versions of the original surveys that maintain adequate reliability,

    while reducing the completion time. An indication of relative job satisfaction can be

    determined and the results of the completed, abridged versions of the JDI/JIG can be

    compared with national norms developed by Bowling Green State University.

    The MLQ measures a broad range of leadership types and identifies the

    characteristics of a transformational leader. The MLQ is not designed to encourage the

    labeling of a leader as transformational. Instead, it is more appropriate to identify a

    leader or group of leaders as “more transformational than the norm” (Avolio, Bass

    Walumbwa, & Zhu, 2004, p. 110).

    The population of this research study included personnel who serve in IT roles in

    the public, Kansas-based, community college institutions listed in Appendix A.

    Technology personnel must have been at least 18 years old to be included in the sample.

    All full-time and part-time IT workers of diverse ages, ethnicities, employment training,

    and educational backgrounds, and whose colleges publicly publish their contact

    information were invited to participate in this study. Each community college employed