Leveraging Affinity Groups in Organizations: Exploring Organizational Culture, Operational Excellence, and Employee Retention

Streamed Session Leadership

Session Materials

Brief Abstract

Workplace affinity groups aid in organizational culture, operational excellence, and employee retention. To be successful, organizations need to develop effective affinity group programs and initiatives. The purpose of this qualitative generic inquiry study was to explore how affinity groups support organizational culture, operational excellence, and employee retention in organizations. 

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Lisa Kangas, Walden University

Lisa M. Kangas, Ph.D. has more than 20 years of business experience and 12 years of experience in higher education in various leadership roles. She is futurist, social change agent, and passionate about innovation, collaboration, and lifelong learning. Dr. Kangas currently serves on Walden's Innovation Advisory Council and Social Change Advisory Council, as well as several other committees. As a higher education advocate she strives to improve the quality of education. She has extensive experience in higher education and business, and implication for social change and expertise in emerging technologies and innovations, collaboration, leadership, and social change. She is a consultant, co-author of several books, presents frequently at conferences, and has published in numerous journals. Her dissertation was also honored in ProQuest’s top 10 best sellers list. She joined Walden in 2011 to work with faculty and students as a faculty consultant in the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) program, and currently serves as a lead faculty and teaches Strategic Management and Innovation, Change Management, Innovation Management, and Leadership courses, doctoral mentor, and teaches at residencies and intensives.

Co-presenter: Julie James, Walden University

Co-presenter: Maureen Hall, Ross University School of Medicine

Dr. Hall holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, in 1998 and later joined Saint George's University School of Medicine, Grenada, for her MD (Doctor of Medicine) in 2005. In 2013, Dr. Hall graduated with a Certificate in Education Technology at the Devry University and Keller Graduate School of Management and later proceeded to a master’s in science in Education Technology with a Distinction, in 2016. She qualified as a Professor of Medical Education at the Ross University School of Medicine in Barbados and served as Senior Faculty in the Academy for Teaching and Learning (ATL). She has served at the university for more than 14 years. She also worked as the Former ATL director and is one of the Course Directors. Dr. Hall also practiced at the St Joseph's Regional Medical Center as a physician for Family Medicine resident postgraduate. In her line of work, Dr Hall has achieved high-profiled honors and awards including a Certificate of Appreciation by the Student Government Association: The Heart of RUSM. TEACH Award, Ross University School of Medicine, Fellowship Grant for Enhancing Medical Educational Skills, & The Academy for Teaching and Learning (ATL) Award, honoring outstanding performance evaluations in 2022. Her dedication to school activities is exceptional as she is involved in school-wide activities, including' Admissions Faculty Interviewer interviewing prospective students. Dr Hall has been involved in several research publications, including: A survey of physicians required to complete remediation in medical school. The impact of simulation on integrating basic science concepts and clinical competency skills in medical education of first-year medical students and Humor in the classroom.

Extended Abstract

The research question for this study is: What programs or initiatives are developed by affinity groups to support organizational culture, operational excellence, and employee retention in organizations? This study used a generic-qualitative-inquiry method, and convenience sampling to collect data. Robert Yin’s five step data analysis process of thematic analysis and NVivo were used to analyze data that answered the research question. Eight participants provided narrative answers to semi-structured interview questions. This data added to the current literature on affinity groups and organizational theory. The findings and major themes that emerged from the data provide insights on programs and initiatives utilized by affinity groups to support organizational development.

The three key points revealed from this research study include: 1) some of the effective programs and initiatives being used to promote affinity groups, 2) how affinity groups can affect organizational culture, operational excellence, and employee retention, and 3) why affinity groups are important to engage employees in organizations.

The purpose of this session is to provide and discuss our insights about the key points from our generic-qualitative-inquiry and what the findings revealed from our research study. In addition, we would like to share our findings from this research that reveal insights to successful programs and initiatives that are being used by affinity groups to support organizations. These can be used by affinity groups to further support organizations through effective program development. We look forward to sharing our research and having a great session!