The Perceptions of Unionized and Nonunionized School Administrators Regarding Selected Organizational Factors (Michigan).

The study focused on different perceptions which unionized and nonunionized administrators had with respect to the management practices within their local school district. Areas studied included: (1) perceived differences between superintendents in unionized school districts and those in nonunionized school districts regarding their perceptions of the district's organizational environment; (2) perceived differences in principals' perceptions of unionized and nonunionized administrators regarding their district's organizational environment; (3) perceived differences between local superintendents' leadership characteristics in unionized school districts and nonunionized school districts; (4) differences between local building principals' perceptions of their leadership characteristics within unionized and nonunionized school districts, and (5) trends among Michigan school administrators to form collective bargaining units. The sample group selected for this study consisted of 174 Michigan school administrators, 92 from unionized school districts and 82 from nonunionized school districts. Forty-two school districts throughout Michigan were used in this study. Each respondent returned an Organizational Environmental Questionnaire. Responses from the questionnaire were consolidated into unionized and nonunionized group scores, then the means of scored results were compared by a t-test to determine whether significant differences existed. The findings concluded that there were no significant differences between either the unionized or the nonunionized groups as to their perceptions of their local administrators' organizational environment. Both groups felt that the system-wide level decisions made by local school administrators were being made at the proper level within the total organizational structure and the decision-makers (local building principals) were made fully aware of the problems within their district. While the superintendent's leadership style appeared to influence a movement toward forming collective bargaining units, it was not a significant influence or factor. At the current time there is no great impetus within Michigan to form administrative bargaining units. It is possible, however, that when districts face crises (especially in the areas of job security, working conditions, salary increases, school board leadership, and superintendent's leadership qualities), administrators in nonunionized districts might consider forming bargaining units.Ph.D.Educational administrationUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/160233/1/8422343.pd