Exploring how authoritarian leadership affects commitment: the mediating roles of trust in the school principal and silence

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanifi Parlar ◽  
Muhammet Emin Türkoğlu ◽  
Ramazan Cansoy

PurposeThis study aims to explore the relationship between authoritarian leadership and commitment and the mediating roles of silence and trust in school principals.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a cross-sectional design to illustrate the relationships among authoritarian leadership, trust in the principal, silence and affective commitment using path analysis evidence provided by 409 K–12 teachers.FindingsThe findings revealed that authoritarian leadership indirectly affected teacher commitment through trust in the principal and acquiescent silence. Furthermore, trust in the principal played a partial mediating role between authoritarian leadership and defensive silence. Authoritarian leadership behaviours decreased teachers' affective commitment by decreasing trust in the principal and increasing organisational silence.Originality/valueAlthough leadership and culture have been studied intensively in recent years, authoritarian leadership, which is more commonly seen in Eastern societies, has been less studied in school contexts in the Middle East and Asia. Thus, this study contributes to the literature by examining the factors that might influence affective commitment in schools in an urban setting: authoritarian leadership, silence and trust in school principals.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bünyamin Han ◽  
Rasim Tösten ◽  
Zakir Elçiçek

PurposeThe aim of this research is to examine the public leadership (PL) behaviors of principals working in public schools and its effect on teacher motivation (M) and job satisfaction (JS). Moreover, the mediating role of JS in the relationship between PL and M is also explored.Design/methodology/approachThis research is quantitative and designed in relational survey model conducted with 327 teachers working in Siirt/Turkey in 2020. In the research, Public Leadership Scale, Teacher Motivation Scale and Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire were used. Descriptive analyses were used in data analysis. Moreover, mediating role of job satisfaction between public leadership and teacher motivation was tested.FindingsAccording to the results, the public leadership behaviors of school principals, motivation and job satisfaction of teachers are high according to teacher opinions. Additionally, public leadership behaviors of school principals have an effect on teacher motivation and job satisfaction. On the other hand, this study found a negative effect between public leadership and motivation when the effect of job satisfaction is controlled. The possible reasons for this situation were discussed in term of cultural differences.Practical implicationsThe results of this study imply that the leadership behaviors of school principals have cultural elements. Future research should be careful in measuring the political loyalty dimension of the public leadership and should take cultural element into consideration.Originality/valueAlthough there are many types of leadership, the type of leadership differs depending on the purpose of the organization, environmental conditions and culture. The lifestyle of the society, current developments and the structure of the organization are effective in interpreting the leadership needed in the organization. When looking at the models created about leadership in organizations, the effect of this type of leadership on organizational behavior is generally tried to be explained. This is also the case for motivation or job satisfaction. Therefore, this study also focuses on the effect of public leadership in explaining the job satisfaction and motivation of employees in educational organizations. However, another distinctive aspect of this research is that the cultural structure of the society is emphasized in the model to be created.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Dadaczynski ◽  
Claudia Kotarski ◽  
Katharina Rathmann ◽  
Orkan Okan

PurposeSchool principals are generally seen as key facilitators for the delivery and long-term implementation of activities on school health promotion, including health literacy. However, there is little evidence on the health literacy and health status of this occupational group. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the health literacy of school principals and its association with mental health indicators.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional online survey with German school principals and members of the management board (vice principals) was conducted (n = 680, 68.3% female). Demographic (gender, age) and work characteristics (type of school, professional role) as well as health literacy served as independent variables. Mental health as a dependent variable included well-being, emotional exhaustion and psychosomatic complaints. Next to uni- and bivariate analysis, a series of binary logistic regression models was performed.FindingsOf the respondents, 29.2% showed a limited health literacy with significant differences to the disadvantage of male principals. With regard to mental health, respondents aged over 60 years and those from schools for children with special educational needs were less often affected by low well-being as well as frequent emotional exhaustion and psychosomatic complaints. Taking into account demographic and work characteristics, regression models revealed significant associations between a low level of health literacy and poor mental health across all indicators.Research limitations/implicationsThe cross-sectional nature of this study does not allow to draw conclusions about the causal pathways between health literacy and mental health. Although the sample has been weighted, the results cannot be generalized to the whole population of school principals. There is a need for evidence-based interventions aiming at promoting health literacy and mental health tailored to the needs of school principals.Originality/valueThis is the first study to investigate health literacy and its association with health indicators among school principals.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Böse ◽  
Stefan Brauckmann-Sajkiewicz

PurposeThis study aims to explore the extent to which schools principals serving disadvantaged communities in Germany are able to set appropriate goals and choose suitable measures for improving their schools according to the specific challenges they face. The authors determine whether principals are able to identify their schools' challenges or whether they merely follow “universal recipes” of the school effectiveness research paradigm regardless of their particular school context. This effectiveness-driven accountability approach requires an in-depth evaluation of the school and its stakeholders and might lead to a new attitude toward failure that sees it as an essential part of developing effective school improvement plans.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted descriptive and correlative analyses as well as exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using longitudinal data of 164 school principals. Through cross-sectional analyses, the authors investigated the connection among challenges, goals and measures and how they correlated with (self-reported) improvements.FindingsFrom a leadership perspective, priorities for school improvement should be aligned with the school-specific challenges they identify and the goals they set to address them.Research limitations/implicationsThe extent to which legislation concerning individual school quality development programs can translate into feasible and effective actions is unclear. Caution should be taken when interpreting the findings of this study, as they reflect school principals' self-selected evaluation measures and therefore might be biased.Practical implicationsIn future research, emphasis should be placed on school management processes, in particular, the development of strategic decision-making, structuring of target perspectives and derivation of steps in school improvement and instructional development. The authors recommend the government offer school principals appropriate and adequate training and support services to prevent them from overburdening their staff.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to a deeper understanding of processes concerning strategic leadership, as opposed to operative management, of schools by revealing context-sensitive considerations.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agrippa Madoda Dwangu ◽  
Vimbi Petrus Mahlangu

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to investigate the effectiveness of accountability mechanisms employed in financial management practices of school principals in the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Education. The strengths and weaknesses of the systems and mechanisms of the processes to hold school principals accountable are explored in detail in this study. The argument that this article seeks to advance is that accountability of the school principal to the school governing body (SGB) does not yield the best results in terms of efficiency. It creates a loose arrangement in terms of which the school principal takes part in financial mismanagement in schools.Design/methodology/approachData collection was made through semi-structured interviews whose purpose was to draw experiences from SGBs, particularly the finance committees who are in fact the sub-committees of the SGBs; as well as literature review. The finance committee is made up of the chairperson of the SGB, the secretary of the SGB, the treasurer of the SGB, and the financial officer who is a clerk responsible for the keeping and the management of financial records of the school. The process started with semi-structured interviews, then transcribing, coding, developing themes, making meaning of the themes and subsequently developing a principle.FindingsMechanisms employed by schools and the Department of Education to hold principals accountable for their financial management practices fail to make them fully accountable and effectively face the consequences of acts on their part that are illegal and unlawful. The mechanisms need a great deal of overhauling. The argument that this article seeks to advance is that this account of the school principal to the SGB does not yield the best results in terms of efficiency. It creates a loose arrangement in terms of which the school principal easily gets away with a crime when financial mismanagement occurs in the school.Research limitations/implicationsParticipants could possibly not be comfortable and willing, to tell the truth as it is. Participants might have the fear that telling the truth could land them in trouble with the law. Whilst participants were assured by the researchers of their anonymity and the confidentiality of the information given by them, there was no guarantee that the fear of being exposed would subdue completely. There was also a possibility that some participants would not be willing to say the truth as it is for fear of being victimised by other participants for exposing the status quo in their schools.Practical implicationsThe findings and recommendations from this study may be used by the Department of Basic Education as a source of information for policymakers and stakeholders to understand the effectiveness of their mechanisms to ensure the accountability of school principals on issues of financial management. On the basis of this study, policymakers will then be able to revisit their policies for the purpose of strengthening them. The principal is therefore responsible for the day-to-day administration and management of school funds because of this mandatory delegation. However, when things go wrong, it is the SGB that is held liable.Social implicationsSchool principals hold dual accountability in terms of which they are accountable to the employer only in so far as their professional responsibilities are concerned on financial management in the first instance. They are by no means accounting officers in schools. In the second instance, they are fully accountable to the SGB for issues relating to financial management. Section 16A of SASA lists the functions and responsibilities for which the principal as an employee of the Department of Basic Education, and in his official capacity as contemplated in Sections 23(1) and 24(1) (j) of the same Act, is accountable to the head of department (HOD).Originality/valueThe study provides a theoretical and empirical contribution to the existing literature on the effectiveness of the mechanisms employed to ensure the accountability of school principals in their financial management practices in schools. It offers practical recommendations putting in place mechanisms that effectively hold school principals wholly accountable for their financial management practices in schools. Most of the time, it is easy for the principal to get away with a crime even in instances where he or she is called upon to account for alleged financial mismanagement.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betül Sönmez ◽  
Aytolan Yıldırım

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test the mediating role of autonomy in the effect of a pro-innovation organizational climate and supervisor supportiveness (SS) on the innovative behavior (IB) of nurses.Design/methodology/approachThe sample of this cross-sectional, correlational study consisted of 332 nurses, who were selected, on the basis of the convenience sampling method, from among the nurses working at two public university hospitals in Istanbul. The data of the study were collected between February and May of 2015. Descriptive analysis and linear regression analysis were used for data analysis, and the bootstrapping method was applied to test the significance of the mediating role.FindingsThe model used for examining the mediating role of autonomy was found to be statistically significant, as it explained 36 percent of the variance of IB. When the significance of the mediating role was tested, its effect on both innovation climate and SS was observed to be significant.Originality/valueThe obtained results indicated that a pro-innovation organizational climate and SS functioned as premises for autonomy. In turn, the rise in autonomy level that served to innovative climate and SS increased the IB of the nurses through boosting their autonomy level. From these results, it can be argued that nurses with a high level of professional autonomy can create innovative outputs and provide added value through the IB they practice in providing patient care and general health services.


2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 629-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mobin Fatma ◽  
Imran Khan ◽  
Zillur Rahman

Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of two types of corporate associations – corporate ability (CA) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) – on consumer brand loyalty in retail banks in India. Design/methodology/approach A survey on 489 banking consumers was carried out. To achieve research objectives, test hypotheses and analyze data, structural equation modeling was used. Findings The findings show that CA and CSR associations were found to have positive and indirect influences on consumer brand loyalty through brand identifications. This indicates that the process of corporate association transforming into loyalty is much more complicated, and there are other factors influencing this process, making brand identification necessary for achieving customer brand loyalty. Research limitations/implications The results presented in this study have important managerial implications for banking companies in India. The findings demonstrate the importance of CA and CSR associations in the present business scenario and highlight the need to successfully implement them in management policies. Originality/value This study contributes to the existing body of literature by highlighting the influence of brand identification on brand loyalty through affective commitment and satisfaction.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elijah Yendaw ◽  
Anthony Mwinilanaa Tampah-Naah

Purpose This study aims to investigate the health-care-seeking behaviour and practices of West African migrants who reside and operate in Wa, Ghana, as itinerant retailers. Design/methodology/approach The study was cross-sectional and used the quantitative research approach. The analysis was done on a target population comprising 122 itinerant immigrant retail traders in Wa, Ghana. Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression were used to analyse the data. Findings Malaria was the commonest disease among them. Five in ten of the migrants preferred to report malaria episodes to a private health facility than to a government facility. Significant associations were identified between four dimensions (health facility, self-medication, home remedy and consult others) of health-seeking behaviour, and some background characteristics. The main reason why migrants prefer government health facilities was because of their better health personnel. They self-medicated because of easy accessibility of over-the-counter medicine shops. Also, when ill, the migrants usually consulted family members who would be in a position to take them home when their ailment worsens. Research limitations/implications Snowball sampling was used to select the respondents which could potentially lead to a sample that is not fully representative of the population in general. Originality/value Studies concerning migration and health in Ghana have been focused on internal migrants. Yet, minority immigrant traders equally encounter adverse health conditions but limited studies have been conducted to espouse their health-seeking behaviour. This study imperatively contributes to the subject matter that has limited literature in the country.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 1135-1149
Author(s):  
Melinde Coetzee ◽  
Marais Salemon Bester

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the association of harmonious work passion with career satisfaction, while probing the mediating role of employees’ psychological career resources and career preoccupations as important psychosocial career mechanisms in this association. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a cross-sectional quantitative study comprising a sample of (n = 550) employees in various South African organisations. Findings The current study found that individuals’ career preferences, career drivers, career harmonisers and career adaptation preoccupations are dynamic mechanisms that regulate the link between harmonious passion and career satisfaction. Research limitations/implications The study is located in South Africa and was cross-sectional in design. Generalisation to other occupational contexts and establishing cause-effect relations were not possible. Practical implications This paper demonstrates the usefulness of harmonious work passion as an additional positive psychological construct in understanding the psychosocial motivational career mechanisms that drive employees’ career satisfaction. The mediating role of certain psychological career resources (i.e. flexible career preferences, career drivers and career harmonisers) and career adaptation preoccupations in the link between employees’ harmonious passion and career satisfaction need to be considered in career management support practices. Social implications This paper demonstrates the growing need to better understand the psychosocial mechanisms that influence employees’ career satisfaction. Originality/value The study contributed new insights that extend theory and research on the harmonious work passion phenomenon in relation to important career constructs in the work-career context by means of self-determination theory.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajeet Pradhan ◽  
Aman Srivastava ◽  
Dharmesh K. Mishra

Purpose The purpose of this study is to test the relationship between abusive supervision and employee’s knowledge hiding behaviour among Indian information technology (IT) employees. The paper also strives to theoretically discuss and then seek empirical evidence to the two mediational paths (namely, psychological contract violation and supervisor directed aggression) that explain the focal relationship between abusive supervision and knowledge hiding. Design/methodology/approach To test the proposed hypotheses, the study draws cross-sectional data from Indian IT employees working in various IT firms in India. Data were collected at two time points (T1 and T2) separated by one month to counter the priming effect and neutralize any threat of common method bias. The final sample of 270 valid and complete responses was analysed using SmartPLS 3 to test the hypotheses. Findings Results showed that abusive supervision is positively related to employee’s knowledge hiding behaviours. Also, both psychological contract violation and supervisor directed aggression partially mediates the abusive supervision-knowledge hiding behaviour linkage. Originality/value First, the current study has tested the positive relationship between abusive supervision and knowledge hiding behaviours unlike most of the previous investigations that have focussed on knowledge sharing behaviour (the two are different constructs having different antecedents). Second, the study also empirically investigated the two parallel mediational routes, namely, psychological contract violation and supervisor directed aggression that explains the blame attributed by the beleaguered employee that led to covert retaliatory behaviour, such as knowledge hiding.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 789-809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Upasnaa A. Agarwal ◽  
James B. Avey

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the effects of abusive supervision on cyberloafing behavior, to test the mediating role of PsyCap in this relationship and the extent to which these relationships are moderated by psychological contract breach.Design/methodology/approachA total of 394 full-time managers across different Indian organizations served as the sample for this study.FindingsThe results revealed that the abusive supervision and PsyCap are significantly correlated with cyberloafing, the relationship between abusive supervision and cyberloafing is partially mediated by PsyCap and the impact of abusive supervision and PsyCap on cyberloafing is moderated by psychological contract breach such that the effects of abusive supervision and PsyCap on cyberloafing are stronger when employees perceive high psychological contract breach.Research limitations/implicationsA cross-sectional design and use of self-reported questionnaires are a few limitations of this study.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies examining cyberloafing in response to abusive supervision and one of the few attempts to examine the effects of abusive supervision on individual resources (PsyCap) in response to workplace mistreatment. This study is also the first to examine these phenomena in the Indian context.


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