Document Type
Doctor of Education Capstone
Original Publication Date
2023
Client
Marine Corps University
Date of Submission
April 2023
Abstract
E PLURIBUS UNUM: INCREASING A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF MISSION AT MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY
By Edward Greiner, Kirstin Pantazis, Christopher Reid, and Dominick White
A capstone project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Department of Educational Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University, 2023.
Capstone Chair: Beth E. Bukoski, Ph.D., Department of Educational Leadership
Mergers between higher education institutions present unique challenges to creating and maintaining a shared understanding of mission. Additionally, professional military education institutions with civilian faculty and staff must blend military and civilian cultures in the workplace. These twin challenges are uniquely presented in the case study of Marine Corps University (MCU). This qualitative case study provides practical insights and recommendations for increasing a shared understanding of mission at MCU. Three focus groups and 21 semi-structured interviews composed of military and civilian personnel from across MCU’s Quantico campus were conducted. We found that communication, collaboration, and culture influence a shared understanding of mission, and each is influenced by the actions and attitudes of institutional leadership. Further, in organizations like MCU, where military and civilian personnel work together, special attention must be paid to communication style, cultural expectations, and attitudes toward collaboration.
Rights
© The Authors
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