THE MEANING, VALUE, AND EXPERIENCE OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP ...

THE MEANING, VALUE, AND EXPERIENCE OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP FOR LAW

ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES IN TODAY¡¯S WORLD

Hugh M. McKinney

Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

in

Human Development

(Adult Learning and Human Resource Development)

Marcie Boucouvalas, Ph. D., Chair

John Jarvis, Ph. D.

Linda Morris, Ed. D

David Corderman, Ph. D.

Date April 11, 2007

Falls Church, Virginia

Key Words: Strategic Leadership, Law Enforcement

The Meaning, Value, and Experience of Strategic Leadership for Law Enforcement Executives

in Today¡¯s World

by

Hugh M. McKinney

Committee Chairperson: Marcie Boucouvalas

Human Development

Adult Learning and Human Resource Development

(ABSTRACT)

As an FBI Agent leading the FBI National Executive Institute (NEI) I met a number of

law enforcement leaders who, after becoming the chief their police department, related that they

thought they knew what the chiefs¡¯ job was until the first day they took that position.

Contemporaneously, I learned from one of my NEI students, who had also attended the Army

War College (AWC), that the AWC strategic leadership courses educated Colonels before they

became Generals. These seminal events gave me the idea to provide the NEI with studies on

strategic leadership in law enforcement. The outcome of a preliminary literature search

evidenced a paucity of research for strategic leadership involving law enforcement executives

and suggested the need for a study. The chiefs of police in the Major Cities Chief (MCC)

Association were an appropriate population for such research since a wealth of wisdom resided

in them. This study was aimed at determining what their experience taught them about two

global questions that guided the inquiry: (a) What is the meaning and value of strategic

leadership for law enforcement officials in today¡¯s world, and (b) What is the developmental

process involved in transitioning from tactical to strategic leader. A mailed instrument was used

to gather data, including asking who the participants considered the best strategic leaders in the

MCC. Ten chiefs were thereby peer-selected for face-to-face interviews that augmented, gave

more richness, and more depth to the data. Findings suggest that while strategic leadership is still

in process and escapes a finite definition, it includes a big picture, systems/contingency view of

dealing with issues rather than incidents, continuous lifelong learning for themselves through

assignments, reflection, and education, but also involves developing their followers through

mentoring and delegation. This study found that the MCC perceive themselves as strategic

leaders. Their transitional process of becoming a strategic leader included mentors, conflict,

courage to stick with right decisions, integrity, and political perspective. Further statistical

analysis and study is recommended comparing these data with other leadership studies to give a

more distinct definition of and a model for strategic leadership both in law enforcement and the

general population.

iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost, I thank my God, my Savior, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for

allowing and equipping me to do this study. Additionally, I would not have been able to

persevere through these many years of learning without the support of my wife, Margaret, my

three daughters, Mary, Beverly, and Kathryn, my son-in-law, Marshall, and of course my

granddaughter, Laura. My friends, counselors, encouragers, and accountability partners include

Don Meredith, Dr. Barry Leventhal, Buddy Lux, John Hall, and Ron Reams who gave me the lift

and encouragement I required when I needed it. Thank you to Dr. Lois Knowles whose abilities

and resolve began my and my four friends¡¯ journey as a cohort. Thank you also to Dr. Robbie

Friedman who gave me some good ideas and advice along the way. Michele Eldredge was

always there to bail me out of one problem after another and I appreciate it. Cindy Lent is my

friend and the most tenacious editor who stuck with me through thick and thin. You are a

wonderful person. Thank you to everyone else in the Library of Congress, Virginia Tech and the

FBI for your help and encouragement.

My Dissertation Committee included Linda Morris who always had a way of clarifying

and simplifying things and was a great help to me. My friends and fellow co-workers John Jarvis

and Dave Corderman helped shoulder the load and guided the way for me through some trying

times and they deserve more than my thanks. Finally, I want to acknowledge my Chairperson,

Marcie Boucouvalas who has a wonderful touch in knowing how to get the most out of her

students and making learning a tremendously beneficial experience. Thank you.

iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(ABSTRACT) ............................................................................................................................... ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................... iv

LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................... ix

LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................................x

PREFACE.......................................................................................................................................1

CHAPTER 1 ¨C INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................3

PATHWAYS TO STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP .......................................................................................3

Major Cities Chiefs ..............................................................................................................4

PURPOSE .......................................................................................................................................5

Definition of Strategic Leadership...........................................................................................5

Definition of Today¡¯s World ....................................................................................................7

QUESTIONS GUIDING THE INQUIRY ...............................................................................................9

NEED AND SIGNIFICANCE............................................................................................................10

CHAPTER 2 ¨C LITERATURE REVIEW.................................................................................11

OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................................................11

Definitions of Terms...............................................................................................................12

Tactical...............................................................................................................................12

Strategic .............................................................................................................................13

Systems ..............................................................................................................................14

Definitions of Terms as Used in this Study ............................................................................15

Tactical and Strategic Leadership .........................................................................................16

Academic and Historical........................................................................................................25

Military ..................................................................................................................................33

Religion ..................................................................................................................................38

Government, Politics..............................................................................................................42

Business..................................................................................................................................50

Law Enforcement Leadership ................................................................................................52

SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................56

CHAPTER 3 ¨C RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES ...........................................58

INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................58

PURPOSE .....................................................................................................................................58

DESIGN .......................................................................................................................................58

TWO RESEARCH CONCERNS AND EIGHT QUESTIONS GUIDING THE STUDY.................................59

Concerns ............................................................................................................................59

Questions............................................................................................................................59

SOURCES OF DATA ......................................................................................................................60

PARTICIPANTS/POPULATION FOR THE STUDY..............................................................................63

The Major Cities Chiefs (MCC) as a Population...............................................................63

History of the Major Cities Chiefs.....................................................................................64

DATA COLLECTION .....................................................................................................................65

Survey/Questionnaire Instrument ..........................................................................................65

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