Molly Ross
Research Mentor(s): Elizabeth Trinh
Mentor Department: Management and Organizations
Authors: Elizabeth Trinh
Session: Session 3 (11:00am – 11:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 61
Abstract
In the ODESI Lab, led by mentor Elizabeth Trinh, research has focused on leadership and hierarchy in the workplace. For one assignment, business leaders from various organizations, including CEOs, founders, and presidents, were interviewed about their busyness. These interviews included prominent figures such as John Wolf, Vice President of Player Relations at the PGA Tour, Matt Jonna, CEO of Plum Market, and local leaders like Robyn Riseberg, founder of a nonprofit pediatric center. The goal of the study was to better understand how different leaders manage their time and resources to keep their organizations running, given the ever-present challenge of limited time. The study involved conducting structured interviews based on a set list of protocol questions, followed by additional questions based on the interviewer’s curiosity about the organization. Afterward, memos were written to capture the key takeaways, which were then analyzed in greater depth. The main findings revealed that the way busyness is handled varies significantly across organizations, with larger businesses often relying on delegation, while others focus on eliminating tasks or simply working longer hours. This research highlights how different organizational structures and leadership styles can influence the strategies employed to manage time effectively, providing valuable insights for businesses to optimize their operations and improve productivity.
