ERIC Number: EJ1133329
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0951-354X
EISSN: N/A
How Might Your Staff React to News of an Institutional Merger? A Psychological Contract Approach
Senior, Chris; Fearon, Colm; Mclaughlin, Heather; Manalsuren, Saranzaya
International Journal of Educational Management, v31 n3 p364-382 2017
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the nature of staff/employee (i.e. learning and teaching, curriculum support and administrative staff) perceptions, anxieties and worries about early merger change in the UK further education (FE) sector. Design/Methodology/Approach: Survey data were collected from 128 out of 562 employees to examine perceptions of psychological contract (post-merger announcement) on an FE college in England. Paired t-tests were used to analyse quantitative data. Additionally, a content analysis of open-ended questions was incorporated as part of a combined methods survey evaluation approach for discussion and triangulation purposes. Findings: Quantitative results from t-tests showed there had been a decrease in the perception of fulfilled obligations in nine of the ten areas of the psychological contract. Qualitative results indicated that communications, job security and uncertainty were common negative outcomes post-merger announcement. Implications for education managers from the case study include: a need for improved organizational communication; developing trust and mentorship for greater employee support, as well as; promoting further employee training and new opportunities for teamwork. Research Limitations/Implications: Psychological contract theories for evaluating organizational change are useful given the recent interest in sharing public services and institutional mergers in the UK. This research demonstrates the benefits of using psychological contract, as well as how to apply such an evaluation for understanding staff concerns. Originality/ Value: The paper demonstrates a usable (psychological contract) survey evaluation approach for studying the impact of early merger change on staff in the FE, or higher education sectors in the UK (or elsewhere).
Descriptors: Organizational Change, Teacher Attitudes, Contracts, Psychology, Adult Education, Foreign Countries, Teacher Surveys, Stress Variables, Anxiety, Statistical Analysis, Content Analysis, Case Studies, Organizational Communication, Trust (Psychology), Mentors, Employee Attitudes, Training, Colleges, Questionnaires, Professional Development, Coping, Resistance to Change, Scores
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A