'n Analise van die organisasiekultuur van toppresterende skole

Abstract

Organisational culture has become a fashion word in the corporate community. In teaching circles, more and more people are realizing that organisational culture determines the successful realization of educational teaching. The willingness of staff members to apply themselves to the school, depends on the degree to which they identify with the organisational culture of the relevant school. The organisational culture, however, not only influences-the teachers but also the pupils. The organisational culture influences their academical, sport and cultural achievements and their attitude towards the school. The organisational culture of a school is the specific manner in which all tasks are embarked on and executed. The values, norms, assumptions and convictions of those involved serves as basis for this behaviour. The manner in which tasks are executed becomes traditions later which are supported by artefacts, myths, stories, metaphors, humour and play, heroes and heroines. The organisational culture of a school thus implies not only the manner in which tasks are executed but also the result of the manner employed. There is a certain relation between organisational culture and school climate, organisational health and the quality of working life produced. Organisational culture can be approached in different perspectives, namely as cognition, interpretation of symbols, or from a psychodynamic perspective. The philosophical, traditional and general aspects of organisational culture have been defined and the nature of the top achieving school determined. The ten top achievers among Afrikaans secondary schools in the RSA were determined by evaluating the academic, sport and cultural achievements of all the Afrikaans secondary schools in the country, during the period 1986-1990. Three days were spent at each school during which interviews were held and observations made. This enabled the researcher to analyse the organisational culture of the relevant schools. Guidelines whereby a healthy organisational culture can be established, were laid down by using the mutual and unique characteristics in the organisational culture of the relevant schools. Guidelines were thus given in respect of aspects of the organisational culture of a school such as school uniform, discipline, the organization of the school and the striving for academic excellence. A model has also been developed whereby the organisational culture of a school can be observed and evaluated.