A MULTI-METHOD STUDY FOR CONSTRUCT DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FRAMED IN LAWS AND STANDARDS FOR DISABILITY PROGRAMS

Author

Terri Ann Lewis, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

12-1-2012

Department

Rehabilitation

First Advisor

flowers, Carl

Abstract

ABSTRACT AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF TERRI A. LEWIS, for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Rehabilitation, presented on [ Nov 1, 2012 ] at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE:A MULTI-METHOD STUDY FOR CONSTRUCT DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FRAMED IN LAWS AND STANDARDS FOR DISABILITY PROGRAMS MAJOR PROFESSOR: ¬Carl Flowers, PhD., LCPC, CRC. This study identified program factors and key performance indicators that comprise the minimum outcome measures necessary to evaluate the performance of public rehabilitation programs. Content analysis of laws, regulations, and standards was conducted to identify a basic body of program management knowledge characterized by extracted program themes, terms, and definitions. A Delphi method via Survey Monkey® was utilized to identify and reach consensus about program factors and key performance indicators necessary to model essential management activities and activities associated with a Kaplan and Norton's Balanced Scorecard (1993). Using a Delphi process with five iterations, a panel of individuals was recruited from the field of vocational rehabilitation program evaluators. Eighteen articipants employed in programs throughout the United States were experts in the field of evaluating state rehabilitation programs and their subcontractors. Analysis of results included inter-rater reliability, measures of internal consistency, factor analysis and tests of independence. Factor loading associated 178 extracted elements with 10 variables reflective of executive core qualifications and key performance indicators defined by the Balanced Scorecard. These variables were further associated with three emergent factors. The emergent factors were described by respondents based on characteristics of essential program performance management requirements and leadership attributes. Each factored group was associated with the types of data and reporting requirements generally required for informing management decisions across the nations' public Vocational Rehabilitation programs.