ERIC Number: EJ1044609
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Nov
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1741-1432
EISSN: N/A
Principals' Perceptions about Performance Agreements as Motivational Action: Evidence from South Africa
Heystek, Jan
Educational Management Administration & Leadership, v42 n6 p889-902 Nov 2014
Principals, as one of the professional leaders in a school, are accountable for the quality of education in the school. This is a part of the normal job description and expectations for the person in such a post. In the South African context with a large number of underperforming schools, there is an intention to have an additional performance agreement as a part of performance management, to be signed by principals to hold them accountable for the expected examination results. This article investigated the understanding of principals of the possible motivational implications if the performance agreement is implemented. It also focuses on the issue of what may motivate principals to improve their performance towards sustainable quality education. Motivational theories are used as the lens to understand the principals' perceptions of this performance agreement process. The focus group interviews indicated that most principals are not in favour of the intended implementation and that it may rather have a negative influence on their motivation levels.
Descriptors: Principals, Performance Contracts, Administrator Attitudes, Motivation Techniques, Evidence, Accountability, Program Implementation, Educational Quality, Leadership Effectiveness, Leadership Responsibility, Focus Groups, Interviews, Performance Factors, Performance Technology, Knowledge Level, Familiarity, Administrator Evaluation, Job Performance, Motivation, Achievement Need, Educational Improvement, Academic Achievement, Foreign Countries, Educational Administration, Elementary Secondary Education, Qualitative Research
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: South Africa
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A