Date of Award
Fall 11-21-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Business
Organizational Unit
Daniels College of Business
First Advisor
Yashar Atefi
Second Advisor
Ali Azadani
Third Advisor
John Sebesta
Fourth Advisor
David Altounian
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
C-suite gig economy, Fractional leadership, Future of work, Part-time work, Self-determination theory, Transaction cost economics
Abstract
This dissertation investigates the fractional leader, a rising trend in small and medium enterprises (SME), startups, and nonprofits. Across three studies, the author examines the dimensions of the fractional leader, why organizations are engaging with fractional leaders, and why intermediaries in the market for fractional leaders are emerging. In study 1, the author focuses on defining what a fractional leader is and understanding the motivation for an executive to become a fractional leader through qualitative interviews with practicing fractional leaders across a range of business functions, including executives who lead business activities such as sales, marketing, operations, finance, and information technology. Findings show that the fractional leader is typically working for more than one client, is engaged for their leadership experience and specialized skills, and is pursuing autonomy, competence, and relatedness, the three needs explicated by positive psychology’s self-determination theory. Fractional leaders are seeking self-determination. Study 2 expands the robustness of this research by also examining multiple case studies from two fractional placement services to understand why companies and organizations engage with fractional leaders, drawing on the resource-based view and dynamic capabilities from strategic management. The fractional leader is a new strategic factor in the factor market, giving SMEs, startups, and nonprofits the ability to improve agility and dynamism at a more affordable cost. In study 3, using the qualitative interviews and archival documents, the emergence of formal and informal intermediaries in the market, such as fractional agencies, placement firms, and communities, is explored, relying on transaction cost economics and its links to intermediary emergence. These intermediaries can lower transaction costs and reduce market inefficiencies by providing trusted fractional leaders and services to firms. Together, these findings advance classic theories and contribute to practice by defining what a fractional leader is, identifying their motivating factors, illuminating why SMEs and organizations are engaging with fractional leaders, and finally, explicating why formal and informal intermediaries are emerging.
Copyright Date
11-2025
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Christopher Michael Palmisano
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
78 pgs
File Size
781 KB
Recommended Citation
Palmisano, Christopher Michael, "The Fractional C-Suite: Insights into Fractional Leadership" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2669.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2669
Included in
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Commons, Leadership Commons, Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons