Leadership Strategies for Reducing Operational Costs in Waste Management Businesses in Liberia

Leadership Strategies for Reducing Operational Costs in Waste Management Businesses in Liberia by Rita Evelyn Townsend MBA, University of San Diego, 1980 BBA, University of San Diego, 1978 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University April 2019 Abstract Waste is a global composite of organic and inorganic derivatives from human activities. Municipal solid waste consists primarily of plastics from households and e-wastes, creating opportunities for waste management businesses. The purpose of this study was to explore leadership strategies for reducing operational costs in waste management businesses in Liberia. In this multiple case study, 6 business leaders from 6 waste management businesses in Liberia were recruited as participants. The conceptual framework guiding the study was the transformational leadership theory. Each business leader responded to open-ended questions in a semistructured interview. Data were analyzed by iteratively searching recurrent codes to elicit themes. Themes that emerged included education and training for customers and staff, as well as efficiency and effectiveness for value creation from waste. Based on the findings of this study, waste management business leaders might contribute to social change by employing marginalized population segments in local communities. The marginalized segments in communities could be empowered to communicate waste management messages about recycling, supplementing their skills and messages using waste management technological innovations. The results from this study might provide insight into how waste management leaders might use innovative solutions to reuse, recycle, and reengineer wastes. The results from this study might help waste management business leaders envision opportunities for improvement on waste-to-energy products and services in the lives of customers and employees.Waste is a global composite of organic and inorganic derivatives from human activities. Municipal solid waste consists primarily of plastics from households and e-wastes, creating opportunities for waste management businesses. The purpose of this study was to explore leadership strategies for reducing operational costs in waste management businesses in Liberia. In this multiple case study, 6 business leaders from 6 waste management businesses in Liberia were recruited as participants. The conceptual framework guiding the study was the transformational leadership theory. Each business leader responded to open-ended questions in a semistructured interview. Data were analyzed by iteratively searching recurrent codes to elicit themes. Themes that emerged included education and training for customers and staff, as well as efficiency and effectiveness for value creation from waste. Based on the findings of this study, waste management business leaders might contribute to social change by employing marginalized population segments in local communities. The marginalized segments in communities could be empowered to communicate waste management messages about recycling, supplementing their skills and messages using waste management technological innovations. The results from this study might provide insight into how waste management leaders might use innovative solutions to reuse, recycle, and reengineer wastes. The results from this study might help waste management business leaders envision opportunities for improvement on waste-to-energy products and services in the lives of customers and employees. Leadership Strategies for Reducing Operational Costs in Waste Management Businesses in Liberia by Rita Evelyn Townsend MBA, University of San Diego, 1980 BS, University of San Diego, 1978 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University April 2019 Dedication This work is dedicated to my beloved family, beginning with my parents, E. Reginald Townsend, my father, who quizzed his children at the dinner table, and Sophronia C. Richards, my mother, who taught us that no one can take your education from you; get your education. Most especially, I dedicate this work to my LORD God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and Holy Spirit for wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, and strength. May this accomplishment glory Him and edify His people. Acknowledgments I expressly acknowledge all those who walked this DBA journey with me. My siblings graciously let me use their homes as “the dorm,” and relatives and friends always wanted to know the progress toward the DBA mark. My employer, William V. S. Tubman University allowed me to relocate both for work and to ensure better connectivity with utilities to afford my online education. My Walden University family, especially Dr. Freda Turner, now retired, and Dr. Gregory Uche, Chair of my doctoral program, who counseled and advised me patiently. I acknowledge the tremendous assistance of my committee members, Dr. Lazo Alexandre, Dr. Matthew Knight and Dr. Sarah Matthey-Biernat who thoroughly reviewed my work for compliance with Walden University’s standards. My DBA professors and peers were exceptional in their critiques, feedback and comments – I am very grateful.