THEMATIC

ANALYSIS
C

Dylan Render
OGL 482
Introduction
Working through OGL 482 the common reoccurrence of coursework is to
reflect on the past assignments and see how you have either grown/changed.
In my time within my journey of Organizational Leadership degree, I have
done a lot of work that fits into many themes of my leadership and lifestyle.
This analysis will go through collected data and categorize it to match
specific themes.
Research Process and Methods
Beginning this project was lengthy and needed to have a plan on how to guide through it. Having to sift through old
assignments, assessments, papers, and discussion boards.
1. Look through Canvas and class-made folders on my computer.
2. Read all data
3. Look for repeated words/phrases
4. Find a connection within a theme
5. Take a step back
6. Regroup and refocus on collected data
7. Work on making a cohesive theme with data collect
Research Process and Methods Cont.

• Challenges
• When I began this project, I found myself very reluctant to look back at old work.
Looking back at old work is slightly aggravating to me especially in cases where I
know I could have done better. Not only that the sheer volume of assignments that
have been turned in, there is a lot of data to collect which can also be overwhelming.
• Another challenge was finding all the data within classes. While easy to navigate from
class to class within Canvas it became frustrating and disheartening when looking for
specific pieces of data.

• Outcome
• Putting together a thoughtful and creative presentation of themes throughout my time
in Organizational Leadership.
Data Sources Collected
• Looking at all the work that I have turned in over my time in
organizational leadership I have collected some data that will correlate to
themes that resonate with me and that I have shown.
Data
• Kuder Assessments (KA): Assessments to help curate a better understanding of how your personality can translate into potential
careers, interests, and skill sets.
• YellowDig (YD): Group discussion board where other classmates post ideas in a community forum. Utilizing responses and
posts that were made.
• Career Anchors Assessments (CAA): Through this assessment you are ranking situations from 1-10 and adding up the scores to
understand how your skills translate into working in your career.
• Interview Project for OGL 482 (IP): In this project, I interviewed significant people who have shaped my life and my career. In
this interview, I learned more about myself from hearing from others.
• PMG320 Project Approaches (PA): This was a group project where we worked together on what approach would be the most
supportive with a project that was presented.
• OGL 343 Environmental Campaign (EC): This was a group project where we presented an idea that needed more focus. We
created a narrative with supporting evidence against electric vehicles
• OGL 345 Organizational Ethics project (OE): This was a project where we compared a company that utilized its values within
the company. I talked about Starbucks a company that I worked for and went into detail on how I experienced this and how the
company voices this externally.
• OGL 355 Environmental Analysis (EA): This project was to identify how creating a new business could potentially face
difficulties if they did not enter with the right focus.
Data Continued
• OGL 343 Final Project Charter (FPC): This was the final project with OGL 343 where as a group we created a charter on how
we would break down the needed items.
• OGL 355 Team Project Plan (TPP): As a team we made a code of conduct so to say for our group meetings and our group
project on how we would collaborate and respect each other.
• OGL 360 Peer Review Feedback (PRF): In this class, we had peer coaching each week and where we would meet each week
and give each other helpful feedback for whatever we needed that week.
• OGL 341 Planning for Artificial Intelligence (AI): With this class, I learned how artificial intelligence was innovative in the
workplace. The project at the end of the class was to write a paper about how autonomy could help a business.
• OGL 481 Electronic Portfolio (EP): A portfolio that was put together to put out work throughout our time in our degree courses
in Organizational Leadership major map and more.
• Indingo Assessment (IA): An assessment that I took that gave me an SEC score that would show me how my skills and
personality would work well in an organization setting.
• DiSC Personality Test (DiSC): An assessment that gives four personality types and how you rank within the four different types
by choosing between two different answers.
• Keirsey Assessment (KEA): I took this assessment at the beginning of my OGL journey and gave me great insight on how I
lead.
 • Theme Statement
• I always strive to help others do the best that they can. I have
a history of teaching color guard to kids, and this was one
way that I would express this passion.
• Supporting Data

Theme 1: • In an assessment, I was told that some of the best careers for
me to join would be teaching. (KA)

Teaching &
• Within responses to peers, I always try to shed light on the
situation that they have presented and how they can learn
from it. (YD)
Coaching • Responses to peers I advise how I have done in similar
situations. (YD)
• Others look to me for advice on how work can be done as
told by one of my past managers. (IP)
• Part of my job as a shift leader at Starbucks was to coach on
the spot and was expected of me. (IP)
 • Reflection

• I know that I do not want to teach in a classroom setting I

know that I want to teach and coach others through their

Theme 1: path. This is something that I am passionate about and I

would like to continue utilizing this passion with others on
their journey. A leader is not just there to lead a team to
Teaching & group success but also to individual members' success.

Coaching
 • Theme Statement
• Relationships are what build a network around you. This is
an essential reoccurring theme in my work as I am always
looking for opportunities to learn and grow.
• Supporting Data
• I am always putting peers first in my responses in my
replies. (YD)

Theme 2:
• In group settings where we plan out the project or when we
first meet I am always wanting to take on task. (FPC)
• In the environmental campaign I was tasked with making
Relationships media and laying out the powerpoint. In this team we built
each other up each week in creating something great
together. (EC)
• Peer Reviews in OGL 350 was another great way to build
relationships. Me and another peer were talking about out
future and talking to each other about our difficulties. (PRF)
• In OGL 355 in our group project our team created some
special bonds and I still have relationships with those team
members and still send them messages to see how they are
doing. (TPP)
 • Reflection

Theme 2: • Relationships are vital for networking and feeling a sense of

belonging. Looking at this theme and how not just I

Relationships
responded to others but other peers as well, we were all very
understanding of each other’s difficulties. Building
relationships with others helps create empathy that will help
you get work done when you might be in a slump or just talk
things out when needed.
 • Theme Statement
• Problem solving is utilized in multiple ways in life. Not
everyone is going to have the answer for you when you have
a question. The way you figure it out is what makes or breaks
you.
• Supporting Data
• Figuring out what a business needs to analyze before it steps
Theme: 3 into a competitive business. Learned this in OGL 355 there
are always a reason to look at the bigger picture. (EA)

Problem • Looking at peer questions in a community forum and leading

them to an answer by investigating their post. (YD)

Solving • Strategic planning is critical for business as laid out in my

Electronic Portfolio. You utilize this skill many times in a
day. (EP)
• As part of my jobs I encountered times where I needed to
think quickly at resolving a customer issue and that was a
skill that was praised by management. (IP)
• Feeling knowledgeable in my role creates me to feel more
comfortable at solving problems. (KA)
 • Reflection
• Problem solving is a skill that businesses treasure in their
Theme: 3 teams and in individual members. If you are able to process
information and create a solution you would be a valuable

Problem asset to your team. This creates room for growth in the future
when looking to further your career. I have tried myself to
work on this more frequently in my new position as I get the
Solving hang of it and have noticed a huge shift in my confidence
and willingness to do the job when I work with this mindset.
 • Theme Statement
• You never know what happens behind closed doors. You
have to treat some situations more delicate than others.
• Supporting Data
• Within interview my managers they stated that I may not be

Theme 4: the best at putting myself in others shoes and need to work
on creating more awareness. (IP)
• The values at Starbucks that were taught to me is that you
Empathy need to treat everyone with care. (OE)
• Values and standards create room for empathy to be shared.
(OE)
• Learning that I tend to not give dispilinary actions due to the
empathy that I have for others in my Indigo Assessment. (IA)
• Teamwork and helping others is how I empathize with
others. (DiSC)
 • Theme Statement
• My sense of knowing a job or feeling comfortable in your
setting.
• Supporting Data
• Scoring high within my Career Assessment in
Theme 5: Independence/Autonomy. (CA)
• Thriving in positions that I held longer than 6 moths and
Independence/Auto exceeding expectations. (IP)

nomy • Learning about autonomy in jobs was not scary to me, yet a
very intriguing process. (AI)
• Utilizing tools that are made for you in a job setting is
helpful to everyone and not just changing to change. (AI)
• Sharing my concerns with projects that are happening and
sharing my challenges. (YD)
 • Reflection
• This was something that I noted in my self-assessment paper,
Theme 5: but I have realized this statement to be extremely accurate in
the new role I took. I have recently taken a role that I did not
Independence/Auto know much on thinking it would open more doors for me.
Noticing now that I am starting over has put a strain in my
nomy freedom that I used to feel. I am going to utilize this mindset
and work towards a change of headspace and work towards
my comfortability in my new role.
 • Theme Statement
• Understanding how I work and what works best for me may
not work better for others.
• Supporting Data
• Hearing the skills that are transferrable from day-to-day from

Theme 6: Self- an assessment. (KA)

• Seeing if the skills outlined in assessment correlate with the

Awareness
job that I am working. (KA)
• Knowing that the feedback that I get from others especially
peers can help me in taking feedback. (PRF)
• Hearing from supportive managers about what I need to
work on was eye-opening, as I thought my skills were fine-
tuned. (IP)
• Being a guardian and taking in information from others and
assessing it on how to work with others. (KEA)
 • Reflection
• Being aware of yourself makes sure that you can address
Theme 6: Self- things with a clear mindset. You process information
differently when you know how your brain works. This can

Awareness create a healthier environment for everyone around you and

having this as a leader would be crucial. This is something
that I have started to look at more when I respond in team
meetings in ways of how it can affect others and/or myself.
 • Theme Statement
• Family is super important to me that I need to make sure that
I can take the time to be with them when I can. Trips with
family fill my heart and make me want to do better in my
personal career when I come back.
• Supporting Data
• In my first post introducing myself in the community forum I

Theme 7: tell everyone about my family. (YD)

• On my about me page on my Electronic Portfolio, I have a

Family whole statement about spending time with family. (EP)

• Also, on my Electronic Portfolio, I share pictures of me with
my family. (EP)
• Learning that I protect and am loyal to those that I trust.
(KEA)
• Hearing from my partner for my interview project was a
special moment to hear how proud he was. (IP)
 • Reflection

Theme: 7 • Family is always going to be there for you no matter where

you are in your career. Family is always there to boost your
spirits and tell you when you need to get things together. I
Family have used my family in situations when I feel like I need
more guidance and they are able to share similar stories that
help me create a better decision in my leadership or path.
 • Theme Statement
• My career is something that has been at the forefront of my
mind for the past year as I come to the end of my journey
with OGL
• Supporting Data
• In one of the Kuder Assessments you are given career

Theme 8: options that might fit your skill set it assessed for you. (KA)
• Hearing from past managers and what they thought about my

Career work and how it would take me far. (IP)

• Talking about career changes and future with other peers.
(YD)
• Learning more about other peers’ careers and seeing if they
are interesting and something I would like to pursue. (PRF)
• Creating goals for myself and my future in my career and the
path I will take. (EP)
 • Reflection
• Careers are always being talked about at your job and even in
our coursework. Figuring this out can be overwhelming. This
Theme 8: is a feeling that we all feel when we come closer to the end.
All the acts that we do in our current roles, whether we are

Career aware of it or not, are actions that we make to further our

career in our organization. Keeping this in the forefront of
my mind is what is pushing me to the finish line of my
degree knowing that this is my chance to help push me
forward for other positions.
 • Theme Statement
• Being accountable for my actions and creating a space for
myself to be successful.
• Supporting Data
• The results from my research for best project approaches
could make or break the assignment. (PA)
Theme 9: • Sticking to the team charter and helping others when able.
(FPC)
Accountability • Learning how to approach different projects for future
careers. (PA)
• Making sure that I was present in my team meetings with
OGL 355 because of the promise we made in our team code
of conduct. (TPP)
• Being there for my peers when they need feedback on issues
that they are having as they were there for me when I needed
them. (PRF)
 • Reflection
• Accountability for your actions and what you do was always
something I was aware of from my days in marching band.
Theme 9: What you do reflects on others that you work with so always
watch what you do. I have taken this in my career knowing
Accountability that what I do will speak words for how my team is seen by
others. Working hard to be the best that I can to make sure
others are seen for their hard work as that is what I would
also want in return.
 • Theme Statement
• We always have room for growth as humans and within our
careers. The work that I did in my journey of OGL taught me
this.
• Supporting Data
• The Keirsey assessment reminded me of how to approach
work when in a slump. (KEA)

Theme 10:
• My manager at Starbucks who helped shape me, noticing
when I would learn something from coursework and praising
me. (IP)

Growth • DiSC assessment letting me know where I would strive

before I made the switch from a business degree to OGL.
(DiSC)
• Accumulating all my work and placing it in one place
reminding me of how far I have come. (EP)
• Learning about ethics in organizations and using this to keep
my team mindset postivie and contribute in positive ways.
(OE)
 • Reflection
• We all have room to grow and our time in our positions does

Theme 10: not mean anything. There are many ways to keep ourselves
from falling behind. This course taught me the importance of
how self-assessments can remind us of who we are and how
Growth to shift our mindset with the times. In my leadership I will
always let others know we are not perfect and we all need a
goal on what to work on because no matter what we can
always do better.
Personal Vision Statement
• Put myself first in my career so I can grow.

• This is something that I struggle with in my current role. I have not had
the chance, to be honest with how I feel and what I need. Speaking these
truths with leadership should be able to happen without repercussions, but
I have held myself back, thinking it would look poorly on me.
Personal Mission Statement
• Be present and listen to those around me.

• Be there for those who care about you. Listen to what they are saying to
apply myself where I need to. This applies not only to work but also
family. Do not lose focus on what is important. Work-life balance is the
biggest struggle, but it does not have to be if you are present.