Term of Award

Fall 2014

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Education Administration (Ed.D.)

Document Type and Release Option

Dissertation (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Department of Leadership, Technology, and Human Development

Committee Chair

Teri Melton

Committee Member 1

Patricia Humphrey

Committee Member 2

Amy Ballagh

Abstract

As institutions begin to implement and promote military friendly initiatives in response to the introduction of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, it becomes important that there is a congruence between what institutions say they are doing and what they actually do for student veterans. The literature investigation suggested that strategic intentionality may serve as an important framework for evaluating the implementation of military friendly initiatives.

The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the role that strategic intentionality plays in the successful implementation of military friendly initiatives at three four-year, public post-secondary institutions in the State of Georgia. This study used the three stages of theory of strategic intent, vision, commitment, and practice, as a framework for exploring the role of intentionality.

Data collected from interviews, content analysis, field observations, and a descriptive survey identified having a military friendly culture as the strongest indicator of intentional military friendliness. Nine best practices were identified and included: effective human resources practices; gaining organizational commitment; developing a military friendly culture; supportive leadership and administration; conducting outreach; focusing on continuity; integrating services; establishing a military resource center; and promoting military friendliness through public relations and marketing. Overall, strategic intentionality was shown to be an important framework for evaluating the implementation of military friendly initiatives. The systematic integration of strategic intentionality and the implementation of military friendly initiatives allow institutions to more effectively achieve military friendliness by institutionalizing military friendliness into the organizational culture, creating a commitment from leadership to allocate resources and establish administrative structures, and providing a mechanism for assessment and evaluation.

OCLC Number

898128328

Research Data and Supplementary Material

No

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