| Title |
Wangsgard, Conner MPC_2026 |
| Alternative Title |
Firing on all cylinders: Leveraging organizational culture to approach invested detachment for effective change in small, blue-collar organizations |
| Creator |
Wangsgard, Conner Todd |
| Contributors |
Schnabel, Elaine (advisor) |
| Collection Name |
Master of Communication |
| Abstract |
This thesis adds to the literature of organizational culture and change management by describing and suggesting practices that can lead to effective change in small, blue collar organizations. By researching a small business in the automotive and defense sector staffed by 1099 contractors, it explains the phenomenon of invested detachment and suggests ways to mitigate its effects. By interviewing and observing, the author is able to gather values and prescribe applications for practices of culture and narrative building. The essay explores the relationships between leaders and other organizational members, and the way that communication is executed and responsibility is shared. The ideas discussed are broadly applicable to leaders in organizations whose subordinates are subject to invested detachment. The paper confirms findings by previous scholars of small business and organizational communication, and enriches change management research with its approach to change in the context of culture, narrative, blue-collar values, and invested detachment. |
| Subject |
Communication--Research; Communication--Study and teaching; Small business |
| Date |
2026-03 |
| Medium |
theses |
| Type |
Text |
| Access Extent |
81 page pdf |
| Conversion Specifications |
Adobe Acrobat |
| Language |
eng |
| Rights |
The author has granted Weber State University Archives a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce his or her thesis, in whole or in part, in electronic or paper form and to make it available to the general public at no charge. The author |
| Source |
University Archives Electronic Records: Master of Communication. Stewart Library, Weber State University |
| Format |
application/pdf |
| ARK |
ark:/87278/s69dkwb9 |
| Setname |
wsu_smt |
| ID |
158499 |
| Reference URL |
https://digital.weber.edu/ark:/87278/s69dkwb9 |
