The organizational culture of St. Joseph's College and its implications for educational management: A case study

• Main Author: Panganiban, Lourdes S., SFIC
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1997
• Subjects: Corporate culture; Universities and colleges > Planning; Education > Management; School management and organization; Educational Leadership
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/766
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study reviews and analyzes the historical roots of St. Joseph's College as an organizational concept outlines some contemporary perspectives of culture and the role they play in the organization/school and synthesizes the different perspectives into a framework to suggest alternative directions for research and practice.The study is a combination of historical and descriptive research. A triangulation approach or combination of methodologies in the study of the organizational culture of the school was utilized including the use of both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The various data gathered through the use of questionnaires were subjected to a statistical treatment using the computerized Statistical Analysis System (SAS). The researcher also qualitatively made sense of massive amounts of data collected, reduced the volume of information, identified significant patterns and communicated what the data revealed given the purpose of the study. The historical roots of culture of St. Joseph's College originated with the Franciscan Sisters in Veghel, the Netherlands. It has been a story of significant and continuous growth amidst various conditions and generously responding to the challenge of education in the service of people since 1932. It maintains integral human formation as the core of which Jesus Christ and His gospel are the ideals to strive for and continuing to align and direct its programs towards personal and social transformation for the realization of the reign of God. Based on the findings, St. Joseph's College should not only need change, but ready and committed to change. Its progress and effectiveness correlates highly with its readiness to embark on the change process. Participation by the entire school community-students, parents, teachers, support staff, administrators and other stakeholders-is crucial. Broad participation provides for cross-fertilization of ideas and new ways of thinking. The implications of the findings and conclusions are directed to the maintenance and creation of a school culture through effective and efficient management of St. Joseph's College. Giving shape and direction to a school's culture should be a clear articulated vision of what the school stands for. The results of any improvement or restructuring effort must maintain a primary focus on enhancing the teaching/learning process.One major challenge directed to school leadership is to effectively lead and manage relationships among the organization's mission. A related challenge is to effectively use the organization's role as culture setter and to underscore them through personal behavior.In this particular study, it is evident that culture is not something solely objective and external to individuals who constitute a particular society, class or group. Culture is also carried, communicated, and shaped through individual attempts to understand, master and participate in the life of the group. Learning a culture and living a culture, are, therefore, not simply an inheritance of objects but rather a taking part in the process of history.