Organizational systems
Introduced in 1949 by Von Bertalanffy, General Systems Theory (GST) has since progressed beyond infancy (Shin and Konrad, 2014). Unlike special systems theory which exists to explain particular systems, Skyttner (1996), asserts that GST explains the system functionality itself, regardless of class or level, this theory will serve as the seminal foundation of this study. General systems theory integrates a broad range of special system theories by naming and identifying common patterns and processes among them all, which lends it to explain their origin, stability, and evolution.
Organizational systems are made-up of boundaries that contribute to the compartmentalizing of organizations and the environment. Open systems have five essential components: structural, technical, goals, psycho-social, and managerial subsystems (Kast and Rosenzweig, 1972). To this end, the underpinning of general system theory serves as an appropriate theory to assist in studying and explaining the lived experiences of leadership development among African-Americans administrators. Relevant to this study. This overview will examine existing research literature to provide background and historical data on the interrelated subjects of leadership, African-Americans, mentoring, and the U.S. labor workforce. Literature validating this research provides a background of previous studies related to the leadership development of African-American administrators. Examining the experiences of leadership development among African-American administrators may provide information and new data that will empower leaders through increased knowledge of leadership and heightened confidence in their promotional opportunities.
The literature review will also present findings that confirm the difficulties African-Americans face in their quest to achieve senior management positions. Due to these unique challenges, the group may face that block their ascension to high-level decision-making positions and identify if these challenges are internal, external, or both. Literature reviews are designed to share the results of related studies and connect a study to a dialogue of research with the idea of filling gaps from prior related studies (Creswell, 2009).
A reasonable collection of the limited research on the experience of leadership development of African-American administrators may provide insight on barriers that impede their upward mobility despite the acquisition of higher education. Analysis of essential research supporting this study may identify personal and professional obstacles, work-related challenges, and systemic disparities in the upper echelons of management, as compares to their White counterparts (Smith, 2010). Promoting African-Americans into greater leadership roles has numerous benefits, including presence in the fields of academia and business, where human capital is present and vital to an organization. This literature review provides the opportunity to explore historical data concerning possible inequities in the workforce as they relate to minorities. African-Americans have made gains in the national workforce at the managerial and professional level since the Jim Crow era; however, African-Americans continue to be underrepresented by a large margin in senior management positions. The problem is when compared to White-Americans, there is a disproportionately low number of African-Americans holding senior executive and executive-level roles within American (Kaley, Kelly, Dobbin, 2011).
Education and leadership experience has long been viewed as catalysts for higher pay, greater reward, and increased opportunity. Nevertheless, African-Americans top executives are practically non-existent in 99% of large businesses within the United States.
Thus, examining the phenomenon of how African-Americans describe their experiences of the leadership development process and identifying the barriers to senior management, may add value to existing literature and research and open the door to greater diversity, productivity, and equity in the work-place.
The topic of this research study is: Exploring the experiences of leadership development among African-American Administrators. In chapter one, we determined that there is a disparity among African-Americans in a senior and executive-level position. While African-Americans have made gains in the national workforce at the managerial and professional level, African-Americans continue to be underrepresented by a large margin in senior management positions. The problem is when compared to White-Americans, there is a disproportionately low number of African-Americans holding senior executive and executive-level roles within American (Kaley, Kelly, & Dobbin, 2011).
Understanding what has already been discovered is beneficial and