Communication effectiveness and decision-making styles of administrators of Adventist secondaty schools in Luzon as perceived by teachers and administrators

Abstract

Effective communication and decision making are two of the main pillars of healthy institutions. Some authors considers effective communication as the lifeblood of the organization and others consider decision making as the brain. This study explored the relationship between the communication effectiveness and the decision-making styles of administrators of Adventist secondary schools in Luzon.

Data were obtained from 195 administrators and teachers of the 17 Adventist secondary schools in Luzon, Philippines. Participants responded to the Communication Effectiveness Questionnaire (CEQ) with 14-item questions and the Decision-Making Style Questionnaire (DMSQ) with 42-item questions.

Findings revealed that effective level of communication had the highest percentage as perceived by administrators and teachers, 71% from the group of teachers and 79% from administrators. Of the four subscales used to measure and determine the predominant decision-making style of administrators, teachers indicated that administrators were consultative in their decision making. On the other hand, administrators indicated that ther were more participative in their decision-making style.

A signiticant correlation was found between communication effectiveness and decision-making styles of administrators. Teachers' perception showed that the highest relationship was found in effective level of communication and consultative decision-making style, while administrators' perception on the relationship between communication effectiveness and decision-making styles revealed that the highest correlation was found in the effective level and participative decision-making style.

A significant difference was found between the perceptions of teachers and admlnistrators in terms of the administrators' communication effectiveness and decision-making styles. Seventy-one percent of the teachers perceived communication on effective level while 79% of the administrators have the same perception. Only 2% of the administrators indicated that they were very effective in their communication, while 10% of the teachers indicated that administrators were very effective. ln terms of the administrators' decision-making styles, teachers perceived that predominantly, administrators were consultative but generally, they can be considered as consultative-participative decision makers. On the other hand, administrators indicated that they were predominantly partictpative in making decisions but can be considered, as participative-consultative in general.

Major recommendations include. (a) devising a program that would enhance the communication skills of both teachers and administrators to ensure effective communication and more partrcipaiion in the decision-making process, (b) facilitate comprehensive communication system, (c) devise a system that would provide nonthreatening conditions and would encourage all school personnel to give feedback whether positive or negative; and (d) find ways that a more positive participation and not only consultation in the decision-making process is provided for teachers.