This work represents an analysis of academic deans' leadership orientation and their work-related stress.
In universities worldwide, deans are positioned midway in the academic hierarchy. They are challenged to serve as conduits between the upper management and their unit’s academic personnel. They also have to negotiate both the pressures of performing their managerial functions and the demands of being academic scholars. The dichotomous nature of deans’ position may even create extremely upsetting problems. One such problem is deans’ high level of work-related stress which can, over time, have both personal and professional consequences by adversely affecting their health and impacting the quality of their administrative performance. It is, therefore, important for deans and the educational institutions they work for to understand the relationship between diverse leadership orientations and work-related stress. Using Bolman and Deal’s (2008) leadership frames as its template, this study conducted a survey of 101 academic deans from five state Universities in Region IV-A, Philippines. Analysis revealed that the deans subscribed most to the human resource leadership frame, followed by the symbolic and structural frames, and, lastly, the political frame. Regression analysis disclosed that the symbolic frame significantly decreased administrative-task stress. Thus, it can be inferred that strengthening the symbolic frame could be a gateway for academic leadership to moderate administrative-task stress.
Regression analysis disclosed that the symbolic frame significantly decreased administrative-task stress. Thus, it can be inferred that strengthening the symbolic frame could be a gateway for academic leadership to moderate administrative-task stress.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
3. Statement of the Problem
4. Methods
5. Results
6. Discussion
7. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This study aims to investigate the leadership orientations of academic deans in Region IV-A, Philippines, and to determine if there is a significant connection between these leadership styles and the levels of work-related stress they experience in their roles.
- Analysis of commonly used leadership frames among academic deans.
- Evaluation of work-related stress factors in higher education administration.
- Examination of the correlation between specific leadership styles and stress management.
- Investigation of the symbolic leadership frame as a predictor for reduced administrative-task stress.
Excerpt from the Book
Literature Review
Every organization depends on good leadership in order to be successful. Research has shown that, in academic organizations, deans are positioned in important ways and have a wide variety of responsibilities and stress points. Gmelch (2006) defines stress as “a person’s anticipation of his or her ability to respond adequately to perceived demands, accompanied by the anticipation of negative consequences owing to inadequate responses.” The World Health Organization (WHO) (https://www.who.int/occupational health /topics/ stressatwp/ en/, 2007) specifies that work pressure kept at a minimum could encourage employees to be “alert, motivated, able to work and learn”. On the other hand, WHO also emphasizes that an excessive amount of pressure, to the point of unmanageability, may lead to stress and is linked to negative work attitudes and negative psychological states such as anger, frustration and burnout. Thus, stress is inherent and must be accepted; on the other hand, if it becomes too great, it can do damage to the individual and the organization.
One means of addressing the problem of stress is to consider the impact of different leadership models and frames. Effective leadership in any organization involves considering the mental models on which leaders draw in order to make sense of uncertain situations, determine possible drawbacks, and make decisions that address the reality of problems that arise (Washington, 2015).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides the context for the pressures faced by academic deans and outlines the necessity of studying the relationship between their leadership orientations and work-related stress.
Literature Review: Discusses the theoretical background of stress in academic environments and introduces Bolman and Deal’s Four-Frame Model of leadership.
Statement of the Problem: Defines the research objectives, specifically focusing on the leadership frames used by deans and their connection to work-related stress.
Methods: Describes the study design, including the survey of 101 academic administrators and the statistical methods used, such as frequency analysis and regression.
Results: Presents the findings regarding the preferred leadership styles of deans and the correlation matrix linking these styles to specific stress factors.
Discussion: Interprets the findings by comparing them with existing research and emphasizes the role of versatile, multi-frame leadership.
Conclusion: Summarizes the practical implications of the study, suggesting that enhancing the symbolic leadership frame can help mitigate administrative-task stress.
Keywords
Academic Deans, Leadership Orientation, Leadership Frames, Work-Related Stress, Higher Education, Administrative-Task Stress, Human Resource Frame, Symbolic Frame, Structural Frame, Political Frame, Organizational Performance, Educational Management, Bolman and Deal, Stress Management, Region IV-A.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research?
The study focuses on analyzing the leadership styles of academic deans at state universities in Region IV-A, Philippines, and how these styles relate to their levels of work-related stress.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The core themes include academic leadership hierarchies, the Four-Frame Model (structural, human resource, political, and symbolic), and the management of administrative stress in higher education.
What is the primary goal of the study?
The goal is to determine if specific leadership orientations can serve as a predictor or a tool for moderating administrative-task stress among deans.
Which scientific methods were employed?
The researcher conducted an online survey of 101 deans, utilized a five-point Likert scale for data gathering, and performed statistical analysis using SPSS, including frequency, weighted mean, and regression analysis.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the theoretical foundation of leadership frames, the specific stress challenges faced by mid-level academic managers, the survey results, and the statistical correlations between frames and stress.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Academic Deans, Leadership Frames, Work-Related Stress, and Organizational Performance.
How does the "Symbolic Frame" influence stress levels?
The regression analysis revealed a negative significant correlation between the symbolic frame and administrative-task stress, suggesting that a stronger orientation toward this frame helps decrease such stress.
Are deans limited to a single leadership style?
No, the study concludes that academic deans in the region are multi-frame users, and effective leadership requires the ability to combine various frames depending on the situation.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Jose Alejandro Belen (Autor:in), 2018, An Analysis of Academic Deans' Leadership Orientation and their Work-Related Stress, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/491498
