Leaders' Strategies to Support and Accommodate Employees with High-Functioning Autism PDF
Preview Leaders' Strategies to Support and Accommodate Employees with High-Functioning Autism
Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2018 Leaders' Strategies to Support and Accommodate Employees with High-Functioning Autism Jonathan Pierce Walden University Follow this and additional works at:https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of theBusiness Administration, Management, and Operations Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please [email protected]. Walden University College of Management and Technology This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Jonathan Pierce has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Donna Brown, Committee Chairperson, Management Faculty Dr. Patricia Fusch, Committee Member, Management Faculty Dr. Mohammad Sharifzadeh, University Reviewer, Management Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2018 Abstract Leaders’ Strategies to Support and Accommodate Employees with High-Functioning Autism by Jonathan Elliott Pierce MS, Benedictine University at Springfield, 2010 BBA, Benedictine University at Springfield, 2008 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Walden University February 2018 Abstract Leaders often lack strategies to create supportive and accommodating workplaces that capitalize on the unique skillset of autistic employees. Research has shown that employers benefit from creating supports; however, there is a lack of research on how or why organization leaders provide support and accommodations. The purpose of this descriptive case study was to identify leaders’ strategies for supporting autistic employees. The research question centered on managements’ support and accommodations for employees while capitalizing on their strengths. The conceptual framework included labor process to address management extracting benefits from labor, and resource-based theory to examine gaining a competitive advantage by using rare resources. Purposive sampling was used to select 11 leaders, managers, or frontline supervisors for in-person semistructured interviews from a northern Illinois organization that recruits and hires employees with autism. Other data sources for triangulation included communications, manuals, observations, photos, artifacts, and field notes following Yin’s 5-step analytic model. Eight themes emerged: (a) advocating for self and others; (b) mission, vision, values, and social responsibility; (c) autism challenges; (d) nonphysical support; (e) physical accommodations; (f) policies, procedures, and funding; (g) support personnel; and (h) unique skillset. The results encompass a mission-driven approach to support and accommodation. This study contributes to social change by demonstrating how managers can use disabled employees and assist them in becoming productive members in the workplace and society, while gaining a feeling of self-worth, dignity, and independence. This reduces the burden on taxpayers for care. Leaders’ Strategies to Support and Accommodate Employees with High-Functioning Autism by Jonathan Elliott Pierce MS, Benedictine University at Springfield, 2010 BBA, Benedictine University at Springfield, 2008 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Walden University February 2018 Dedication I dedicate this doctoral study to my God, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has never left me nor forsaken me. With God’s help and unfailing love, I completed my academic journey, in spite of all life’s challenges that occurred during this time. I dedicate this doctoral study to my wife Mary who was my inspiration for this study. I was successful only because of her sacrifice and patience. I also dedicate this study to my son David, daughter-in-law Meghan, daughter Laura, and daughter Claire. My academic journey would not have been possible without your support, encouragement, sacrifice, prayers, and patience. I also dedicate this study to my wonderful grandchildren; may you be filled with the wonder of learning. I also dedicate this study to my father Floyd and mother Helen, whose tireless daily prayers supported me at times when I did not even know they were praying for me. I also dedicate this study in memory of my father-in-law John who passed away 2 years ago and to my mother-in-law Nancy who just passed away at the end of December of 2017, for their kindness and love toward me. I would also like to thank my bother-in-law Ken and sister- in-law Sarah for their prayers and support. I would also like to thank my friends John and Susan, Eric and Karen, who provided moral support and encouragement. I am so appreciative of all your care and concern for me during my academic journey. Acknowledgments I want to acknowledge and thank my committee members, chair Dr. Donna Brown, second committee member Dr. Patricia Fusch, and university research reviewer Dr. Mohammad Sharifzadeh. In particular, I want to thank Dr. Brown for believing in me, supporting my topic, and for encouraging me to press on during times when I wanted to give up. Your tireless encouragement and rigorous direction made it possible for me to press on beyond my ability. I appreciate your dedication and hard work as you guided me through this important study. I also would like to thank the leaders, managers, and frontline supervisors of the case study organization who took part in my study for their willingness to engage in the study and take time out of their busy schedules. Thank you for paving the way in our nation as the sole organization whose foundation and core mission focuses on hiring, supporting, and accommodating employees with autism. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... vi List of Figures ................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background of the Study ...............................................................................................2 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................8 Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................................10 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................11 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................13 Qualitative ............................................................................................................. 14 Data Collection and Analysis................................................................................ 15 Definitions....................................................................................................................17 Assumptions .................................................................................................................18 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................19 Limitations ...................................................................................................................21 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................22 Significance to Practice......................................................................................... 23 Significance to Theory .......................................................................................... 24 Significance to Social Change .............................................................................. 24 Summary and Transition ..............................................................................................25 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................27 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................28 i Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................30 Literature Review.........................................................................................................35 Strategies for Supporting Employees ...........................................................................36 Cultural and Religious Strategies.......................................................................... 40 Economic Strategies.............................................................................................. 41 Legal and Legislative Strategies ........................................................................... 44 Organizational Strategies ...................................................................................... 51 Social Strategies .................................................................................................... 75 Strategies for Employees with High-Functioning Autism .................................... 76 Gap in the Literature ....................................................................................................77 Summary and Conclusions ..........................................................................................78 Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................82 Research Design and Rationale ...................................................................................82 Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................86 Methodology ................................................................................................................88 Participant Selection Logic ................................................................................... 88 Instrumentation ..................................................................................................... 91 Procedures for Recruitment, Participation, and Data Collection .......................... 93 Data Analysis Plan ................................................................................................ 95 Issues of Trustworthiness .............................................................................................99 Credibility ............................................................................................................. 99 Transferability ..................................................................................................... 100 ii Dependability ...................................................................................................... 101 Confirmability ..................................................................................................... 102 Ethical Procedures .............................................................................................. 103 Summary ....................................................................................................................105 Chapter 4: Results ............................................................................................................107 Research Setting.........................................................................................................108 Demographics ............................................................................................................109 Data Collection ..........................................................................................................111 Number of Participants ....................................................................................... 113 Location and Data Collection Details ................................................................. 114 How the Data Were Recorded ............................................................................ 115 Data Collection Variations .................................................................................. 116 Unusual Circumstances Faced During Data Collection...................................... 119 Data Analysis .............................................................................................................122 Moving Inductively from Coded Units to Larger Representations .................... 123 Emerging Categories, Themes, and Codes ......................................................... 126 Discrepant Cases ................................................................................................. 133 Evidence of Trustworthiness......................................................................................134 Credibility ........................................................................................................... 135 Transferability ..................................................................................................... 136 Dependability ...................................................................................................... 136 Confirmability ..................................................................................................... 137 iii
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