Date of Award

6-1987

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Dr. David Cowden

Second Advisor

Dr. John Lore

Third Advisor

Dr. Carol Sheffer

Abstract

This study investigated the impact that a middle management bargaining union had on the function of the management team concept as perceived by selected elementary school principals and selected superintendents of schools in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties in the state of Michigan. Perceptions were solicited from school superintendents employed in school districts where a middle management bargaining unit exists and elementary principals in the same school districts who held membership in the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association. The objective of the study was to provide insights as to the impact that a middle management bargaining union had on the function of the management team. The major issues involving the impact of a middle management bargaining union on the function of the management team were communications, interpersonal relations, decision making and role definition.

A self-designed instrument sought perceptions on the major issues via fourteen sub-variables. The surveys for superintendents and elementary principals were mailed. Of the 180 surveys distributed, 76.0% were returned. Resultant data were analyzed by (a) the respondent's administrative position, (b) the years of experience at that level, and (c) the K-12 enrollment of the school district.

The primary hypothesis was that there is a difference in the perceptions of superintendents of schools as compared to elementary principals with regard to the impact a middle management had on the function of the management team concept. It was concluded that superintendents of schools held different perceptions as to the impact a middle management union had on the function of the management team in the areas of communications, interpersonal relations, decision making, and role definition.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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