Date of Award

8-1995

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Dr. Patrick M. Jenlink

Second Advisor

Dr. Richard Cooper

Third Advisor

Dr. Charles Warfield

Abstract

The advancement of a new theory in the field of leadership education directed the focus of this study. A new paradigm directed toward an inclusive leadership model was advanced and the findings integrated, resulting in the development of a model reflecting four dimensions of leadership theory: (1) transformational, (2) transactional, (3) charismatic, and (4) intuitional.

These four dimensions, supported within a quadrilateral design and incorporating an Eastern philosophical motif represented as a mandala, were then interfaced with the four dimensions of tantric philosophy: (1) spiritual, (2) emotional, (3) intellectual, and (4) sensing, resulting in a tantric mandala of leadership design.

Utilizing a postpositivistic research methodology (Lincoln & Guba, 1985) and generating a grounded theory (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) to advance a new theory in the field of leadership education, this study incorporated the three components of the grounded theory process in order to provide a triangulation of the data: (1) review of the literature on leadership theory, (2) field interviews with persons who are leaders in their respective fields, and (3) personal reflections of the author. These data sources then became the foundation from which the theory was advanced.

The findings of this study indicated that persons who act in a leadership capacity tend to maintain one of four dominant leadership styles found within the design of the tantric mandala. This is then reflected in the way these individuals tend to lead organizations and the people within those organizations.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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