Research Dissertation

An exciting field of organizational research called workplace spirituality has emerged recently. It examines the sense of meaning, community, and inner life fulfillment people experience in their work and workplaces.

Leadership studies continues to explore transformational processes and how the people given roles of directing their organizations carry out their duties.

My research dissertation for a PhD in Leadership examined the correlation between leadership practices of pastors and the sense of meaning and community that paid and volunteer workers in their churches experienced. Over 250 churches from all denominations across North America participated in the study.

It found people were very satisfied with the work they did for their churches–regardless of the leadership practices of their pastors. However, the leadership practice of encouraging the heart was positively correlated with work experience, and the leadership practice of challenging the process was negatively correlated with workers’ experience of finding meaning in their work.

A PDF of the dissertation can be retrieved here: DeVost Dissertation-2010.

PowerPoint for Law 3

A PowerPoint of the Law 3 presentation can be retrieved here: Law 3 PowerPoint.