Relationship between organizational culture and school performance. A study in elementary, middle and high school institutions

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the impact of organizational culture, cultural types, and cultural strength on school effectiveness, as the literature has demonstrated that social processes within schools influence academic outcomes. Prior research highlights the significance of culture in school effectiveness. However, this topic has not been extensively explored, necessitating a closer examination of various organizational cultures and the strength of these cultures. Method: These relationships were investigated using the population of schools in the Colombian coffee region. A total of 698 instructors, along with school boards from 25 educational institutions at the primary, middle, and high school levels, were involved. A regression analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses. Results: The findings suggest that organizational culture and cultural strength have a significant influence on school effectiveness, with the levels of cultural strength corresponding to the levels of school effectiveness. However, no evidence was found of differences in impact based on cultural typology. Clan and hierarchical cultures, which have an internal orientation and are the most prevalent in Colombian organizations, exhibited a greater number of positive and significant relationships. Conclusions: School boards should familiarize themselves with the norms, values, and customs prevalent in educational institutions, particularly those that align most closely with their objectives. This can lead to improvements in school effectiveness and, consequently, educational quality.

Keywords

• Organizational culture
• school culture
• cultural typologies
• cultural strength
• school effectiveness