An improvement model : designing structural arrangements for teachers' motivation in a Lebanese private school
El Saheb, Nadia Issam
An improvement model : designing structural arrangements for teachers' motivation in a Lebanese private school - Beirut American University of Beirut. Faculty of Arts and Sciences 2012 - 144 pages
النوع : Mémoire
In a small Lebanese private school where the researcher used to work, a concern of "teachers' motivation" arose. As a teacher who loves teaching and enjoys interacting with students, the researcher felt de-motivated and powerless operating in a rigid bureaucratic structure of hierarchy and subordination. The researcher noticed that her case was similar to many teachers, whose motivation become low due to structural constraints of hierarchy, fixed rules and centralized decisions. The latter concern was supported when the researcher looked for factors associated with low motivation in literature and found that teachers' levels of motivation and job satisfaction are strongly influenced by organizational structures (Paton & Miskel, 1991). From this standpoint, the aim of this research study is to offer a proposal for a new structural arrangement grounded in field based data and in literature about effective organizational structures and designed to meet the needs and recommendations of both the teachers and administrators in a Lebanese private school. In particular, this study investigates the following questions: a) what are the structural barriers that are affecting teacher's motivation from the perspectives of teachers and administrators? b) what are the structural and policy changes that need to be introduced to reduce the rigidity in the current structure from the perspectives of teachers and administrators? and finally c) what is the ideal organizational model that the school can adopt to achieve its organizational goals while improving teachers' motivation? This study follows an action research design which is a form of research that tackles a real problem of practice, generates knowledge then calls for taking action to promote change (Greenwood & Levin, 1998). Data for this study was collected from five main sources: three focus group interviews with teachers, six individual interviews with teachers, two individual interviews with administrators: the principal and the deputy headmaster, artifacts and finally the researcher's notes. The study employed qualitative (Merriam, 1998) data collection and analysis methods (coding and memoing). Results from teachers' responses identified structural barriers at three levels: the decision making level, the policy making one and the institutional level of time, resources and training. Teachers' recommendations incorporated more flexibility and discretion for teachers with policy implementation, improved communication channels, modifying some policies and involvement in the decision making process. On the other hand, administrators' responses revealed a directive managerial approach of leadership as well as Theory X assumptions of organizational management and human motivation. Rooted in members' needs and recommendations, an improvement model, with both theoretical and practical dimensions, was designed along with potential challenges to consider prior to implementing the improvement model. The research concludes with implications and significance of the study.
Méthodes d’enseignement
Performance professionnel
Private sector
Professional performance
Secteur Privé
Teaching Methods
الاداء المهني
التعليم الخاص
طرق التعليم
An improvement model : designing structural arrangements for teachers' motivation in a Lebanese private school - Beirut American University of Beirut. Faculty of Arts and Sciences 2012 - 144 pages
النوع : Mémoire
In a small Lebanese private school where the researcher used to work, a concern of "teachers' motivation" arose. As a teacher who loves teaching and enjoys interacting with students, the researcher felt de-motivated and powerless operating in a rigid bureaucratic structure of hierarchy and subordination. The researcher noticed that her case was similar to many teachers, whose motivation become low due to structural constraints of hierarchy, fixed rules and centralized decisions. The latter concern was supported when the researcher looked for factors associated with low motivation in literature and found that teachers' levels of motivation and job satisfaction are strongly influenced by organizational structures (Paton & Miskel, 1991). From this standpoint, the aim of this research study is to offer a proposal for a new structural arrangement grounded in field based data and in literature about effective organizational structures and designed to meet the needs and recommendations of both the teachers and administrators in a Lebanese private school. In particular, this study investigates the following questions: a) what are the structural barriers that are affecting teacher's motivation from the perspectives of teachers and administrators? b) what are the structural and policy changes that need to be introduced to reduce the rigidity in the current structure from the perspectives of teachers and administrators? and finally c) what is the ideal organizational model that the school can adopt to achieve its organizational goals while improving teachers' motivation? This study follows an action research design which is a form of research that tackles a real problem of practice, generates knowledge then calls for taking action to promote change (Greenwood & Levin, 1998). Data for this study was collected from five main sources: three focus group interviews with teachers, six individual interviews with teachers, two individual interviews with administrators: the principal and the deputy headmaster, artifacts and finally the researcher's notes. The study employed qualitative (Merriam, 1998) data collection and analysis methods (coding and memoing). Results from teachers' responses identified structural barriers at three levels: the decision making level, the policy making one and the institutional level of time, resources and training. Teachers' recommendations incorporated more flexibility and discretion for teachers with policy implementation, improved communication channels, modifying some policies and involvement in the decision making process. On the other hand, administrators' responses revealed a directive managerial approach of leadership as well as Theory X assumptions of organizational management and human motivation. Rooted in members' needs and recommendations, an improvement model, with both theoretical and practical dimensions, was designed along with potential challenges to consider prior to implementing the improvement model. The research concludes with implications and significance of the study.
Méthodes d’enseignement
Performance professionnel
Private sector
Professional performance
Secteur Privé
Teaching Methods
الاداء المهني
التعليم الخاص
طرق التعليم