THEMATIC ANALYSIS

AMBER LUNDIN

NOVEMBER 11, 2023

OGL 482

DR. JANICE LAWHORN

1
INTRODUCTION
This project is the thematic analysis of my time in the Organizational Leadership program. It is the
processes and breakdown of basic ongoing themes in my work and in my leadership to date.
RESEARCH PROCESS AND METHODS
I chose significant pieces pulled this last semester from current and previous classes to analyze for
basic themes. I first pulled words and phrases that grabbed my attention. I then pulled from those
words and phrases a simple word or set of words to describe the words and phrases. These
describing words describe my leadership and my values.
MY DATA SOURCES
• OGL 375: Autobiographical Personal Leadership Narrative (APLN)
• OGL 350: Final Reflection (FR)
• OGL 365: Counterproductive Workplace Behavior Checklist (CWB)
• OGL 365: Organizational Citizenship Behavior Checklist (OCB)
• OGL 482: Values Checklist (VC)
• OGL 482: Motivation and Career Anchors Assessment (MCA)
• OGL 482: Kuder Assessments (KA)
• OGL 482: Big Five personality test report (BF)
• OGL 482: Inspiration: Dare to Lead (DTL)
• OGL 220: Indigo personality test (DISC)
• Target Internship: 16 Personalities personality test (16P)
MY 10 (OK, 12) THEMES
• Self improvement • Family values

• Support • Financial gain

• Financial security • Stability

• Help others • Reserved

• Diverse workplace • Cooperative

• Close relationships • Empathy

THEME 1: SELF IMPROVEMENT
• Theme Statement: I will continually aim to learn and improve myself.

• Supporting Data:

– Work on myself – accept criticism and help (APLN)

– Better life for myself & my family (APLN)
– Confront behaviors – learn from them – adjust future (APLN)
– Self development = 13 (OCB)
– Seek out opportunities to cross-train (OCB)
– Study and learning opportunities (MCA)
THEME 1: SELF IMPROVEMENT CONTINUED
• Contradictory Evidence: I was unable to find any evidence contradictory to my mission to
better myself.
• Reflection: My life has been a continuous cycle of learning and adjusting based on what I’ve
learned and decided to implement into my life. This is a passion of mine, and I will continue to
seek new information and ideas to use to make my life better and to be a better person.
THEME 2: SUPPORT
• Theme Statement: Support is a two-way street. I receive support from friends, family, and
coworkers, and do my best to reciprocate.
• Supporting Data:

– Good relationship with sister (APLN)

– Husband helps those around him (APLN)
– Learn from others (FR)
– Helping = 20 (OCB)
– [always] help a coworker complete [their] work (OCB)
– Always willing to help (DISC)
THEME 2: SUPPORT CONTINUED
• Contradictory Evidence:

– Take longer breaks than allowed (CWB)

• Reflection: I seek support in those that I surround myself with and give support in return. I
think it’s important to surround yourself with people who are supportive in your endeavors.
THEME 3: FINANCIAL SECURITY
• Theme Statement: I seek financial security in the occupations I apply for.

• Supporting Data:
– Security (VC)
– Income (KA)
– Value financial security (DTL)

• Contradictory Evidence: I did not find any evidence contradictory to this theme.

• Reflection: I think it’s fair to say that I desire to be financially stable in my future career endeavors.
This is something that I value and have worked multiple jobs at a time to ensure that bills are paid. I
hope to find a job that will allow me to work just one job and still have everything covered.
THEME 4: HELP OTHERS
• Theme statement: I hope to help others in my future career, which is why I want to work in human
resources.
• Supporting evidence:
– I want to make a difference (APLN)
– Hope to work in HR – help others (APLN)
– Helping = 20 (OCB)
– [always] help a coworker complete [their] work (OCB)
– Enjoy volunteering (MCA)
– Empathy, help others succeed (KA)
– Always willing to help (DISC)
– Want to make the world a better place (16P)
THEME 4: HELP OTHERS CONTINUED
• Contradictory Evidence: I could not find any evidence contradictory to my mission to help
others.
• Reflection: The entirety of my seeking this degree is so that I can work in human resources. I
have had some not so great experiences, and have had others that have been wonderful. I want
to be that human resources specialist that is helpful to others – a source of support.
THEME 5: DIVERSE WORKPLACE
• Theme statement: I enjoy a workplace that has diversity.

• Supporting Data:
– Enjoy diversity – learning about different cultures (FR)
– Workplace full of diversity (FR)
– More diversity = more opportunity to learn (FR)
• Contradictory Evidence: I was unable to find anything that contradicts this theme.

• Reflection: Although there isn’t overwhelming evidence of an overarching theme, I felt this popped
up enough to be worth mentioning. Had you talked to me ten years ago, I would have felt different.
Being forced to work in diversity has helped me learn a lot about others and has helped me come to an
understanding that there is so much more for me to learn about and from others.
THEME 6: CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS
• Theme Statement: I value close relationships.

• Supporting Data:

– Cannot navigate life on own – built a network (APLN)

– Close relationships (VC)
– Maintains long-term relationships (DISC)
– Building relationships (DTL)

• Contradictory Evidence: I found no contradictory evidence to this theme.

• Reflection: Although I struggle to open up to people, I value the relationships that I build and
maintain over time.
THEME 7: VALUES FAMILY
• Theme Statement: I value my family. They are my number one concern.

• Supporting Data:
– Daughter reshaped how I live and goals (APLN)
– Family (VC)
– Important to include family (MCA)
– Family-oriented (DISC)
– Value family (DTL)

• Contradictory Evidence:
– Bad relationship w/ mother (APLN)

• Reflection: Although I do not get along with my mother, I value my relationships with the family that I have built
in my adulthood. This is unwavering and non-negotiable.
THEME 8: FINANCIAL GAIN
• Theme Statement: I seek financial gain in my career progression.

• Supporting Data:

– Financial gain (VC)

– Income (KA)
– Value financial security (DTL)

• Contradictory Evidence: I did not find any evidence contradictory to this theme.

• Reflection: Although money is not my only career motivator, it is a major motivation for me. I
dream of doing better financially and look forward to financial gain with promotions and career
changes in my future.
THEME 9: STABILITY
• Theme Statement: Finding stability in the relationships around me and in my job situation are
of great importance to me.
• Supporting Data:

– Stability (MCA)
– Lifestyle (KA)
– Consistent/predictable (DISC)

• Contradictory Evidence: I did not find any evidence contradictory to this theme.

• Reflection: I find stability in those around me and in the work I do. This is something that has
to be a constant for me in order to be happy.
THEME 10: RESERVED
• Theme Statement: I am reserved and private. I hesitate to open up and share.

• Supporting Data:
– Reserved (BF)
– Conceals grievances (DISC)
– Reluctant to open up (16P)
– I am reserved and private (DTL)

• Contradictory Evidence:
– Enjoy volunteering (MCA)
– Social – Conventional – Investigative (KA)
– Seek feedback (DTL)

• Reflection: Although there is evidence contradictory to this theme, I am reserved until I am comfortable with
persons or in a given situation.
THEME 11: COOPERATIVE
• Theme Statement: Cooperative behavior is an essential part of my personality.

• Supporting Data:

– Prefers cooperation over competition (BF)

– Non-confrontational, cooperative (DISC)

• Contradictory Evidence:

– Take longer breaks than allowed (CWB)

• Reflection: I think cooperation is a positive attribute of my personality. This in heavily

engrained and I don’t see it changing.
THEME 12: EMPATHY
• Theme Statement: Different from sympathy, empathy is something that can build trust in
relationships.
• Supporting Data:
– Empathy, help others succeed (KA)
– Displays empathy (DISC)
– Fostering empathy (DTL)

• Contradictory Evidence: I did not find any evidence contradictory to this theme.

• Reflection: I have learned from Dare to Lead that I have a lot of practice and learning to do in regards
to empathy. This is something that I will work towards mastering for the rest of my life. I think it
builds trusting relationships, both in professional and personal settings.
MY PERSONAL VISION STATEMENT
My vision is to help others discover their path in life.

Reflection: I looked through my values and my vocational goals. My ultimate goal is to work in
human resources and help others discover what they’re good at and how to go about using their
skills and following their interests.
MY PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT
My mission is to bring joy to my family by providing the means beyond necessities so that we can
enjoy life.

Reflection: When thinking about my mission in life, I had to bring in a dose of honesty. I care
about my family and making enough money to make ends meet and be able to do fun things
together.
CONCLUSION
I have discovered on my journey some of my preferences and workplace values. I value learning,
diversity, helping others, and free time. I value my family most, and prefer that work works
around family time instead of the other way around. I want to be able to enjoy life and go on
vacations, which is why I value financial gains. I don’t want fame or notoriety, nor do I need to
become rich. I just want to enjoy basic spoils in life, just beyond making ends meet.