The influence of direct executive managers on lecturers’ perceptions on new organizational aims in times of academic drift

Abstract

During educational change, managers can contribute positively to the professional’s sense of coping ability. The question remains as to whether the managers of lecturers can also influence the perception of lecturers on newly formulated organizational aims. Recently, the changes in many European institutes of higher professional education (HPE) have been considerable. The innovationsathand include the Dutch HPE institutes changing from teaching-only institutes toward hybrid organizations for teaching and research. The role of lecturers is central in implementing research into HPE, especially into the educational programmes. Hence, lecturers’ view on the new organizational aims are crucial. Based on a quantitative design, lecturers’ perceptions on the new organizational aims are measured. As part of a structural equation model, these perceptions are related to how lecturers perceive their direct executives’ leadership style, directly as well as mediated by executive-imputed organizational structures as collaboration systems and decision-making processes. The results show that the direct influence of executives based on their leadership style is limited, while initiating lecturers’ participation in decision-making processes is an important influence on lecturers’ perceptions on new organizational aims. More empirical insight into leadership factors and organizational structures can enlarge the improvement of goal achievement during organizational change.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Didi M. E. Griffioen

Didi M. E. Griffioen, PhD, is a Senior Policy Advisor Researcher in the central staff department of the board of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS) at Spui 25, room 1.19, 1012 WX Amsterdam, Netherlands. Email: [email protected]. Additionally she works as a higher education researcher at Amsterdam UAS, and at the VU University in Amsterdam. Her current research projects include studies on the implementation of research activities in new universities, the implementation and acceptation of honour programmes and collaborative behaviour of students in vocational programmes.

Uulkje de Jong

Uulkje de Jong, PhD, is a senior researcher at the Department of Education of the University of Amsterdam at Kohnstammhuis, Wibautstraat 2-4, 1091 GM Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Email: [email protected]. Additionally, she works as a lecturer in research methods at the pedagogics programme of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.