Meryem OKSUZOGLU
Headteacher, Lefkosa Turk Lisesi, Cyprus.

Abstract

Problem Statement: Trust is one of the main values of humanity. It is also the foundation of all human interactions and the corner stone upon which high-performing organizational cultures are built. Increasing importance of trust within organizations, necessitates formation of organizational process on the basis of trust. Trust begins with management since it is the initiator of trust. In order to have a cohesive, productive workforce, one must have organizational trust. At school organizations if the teachers are to be successful and feel efficacious, in numerous ways they are dependent on the attitudes of their administrators. This dependency requires existence of trust in order to reflect on success and feeling of efficiency of the teachers. Therefore, it is very crucial for organizational harmony and success that administrators keep trust at high level in educational organizations.

Purpose of Study: This research aims to investigate the organizational trust in educational management based on the four dimensions (benevolence, competence, integrity and openness) of trust at a high school in the capital city of The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) – Nicosia.

Methods: Case study was used as the main research approach. For the data collection interview questions were asked to seven teachers who have above more than ten years of work experience with the principal. Participants were also chosen purposefully from the teaching staff. Interview questions were asked to the school administrator as well to enable within method triangulation.

Findings and Results: Findings suggest overall a positive perception of trust; however issues of empowerment, inconsistencies in decision-making of top-level administrators in education, daily practices of the school administrator within an organization were also emerged as an important factor in establishing and maintaining trust in educational organizations. Circumstances where there is inequality also had a negative influence on trust perceptions of the teachers.

Discussion and Conclusions: This research contributes to put forward the effectiveness of the attitudes of school administrators in organizational trust. It suggests that delegation of power, consistency among administrative levels as well as individuals, openness and honesty are very important factors influencing trust within an organization.

Keywords: Organizational trust, educational management, administrator attitudes, high school, North Cyprus.