Distinctly lonely: how loneliness at work varies by status in organizations

Purpose This paper aims to study the differing pathways to loneliness in managers and their employees. Literature on emotions in organizational life, organizational management and leadership and loneliness are explored to develop and test hypotheses regarding the differential prototypical scripts that can be generative of loneliness in managers and employees. Design/methodology/approach A total of 28 managers and 235 employees from a horticultural company based in Mexico were surveyed, using measures of perceived connection quality, loneliness and meaningful work to test three hypotheses. Findings Data from 28 managers and 235 staff indicate that while loneliness scores do not significantly differ between managers and their subordinates, the predictors of loneliness differ between managers and employees, with emotional connection and mutuality predicting loneliness in employees but not in managers. Originality/value This paper adds specification to the literatures on workplace loneliness, the loneliness associated with management roles, emotions in organizational life and emotions and leadership. The findings are discussed in relation to the literature on manager-subordinate relationships.

School and Pedagogical Documentation and Records for Successful Work in School

School administration is most commonly oriented to daily school activities or routines for the purpose of school maintenance, while management and leadership are linked to changes occurring in school. Ambiguities with respect to selecting a model of management and leadership arise because a significant part of the educational management theory derives from the business sector and has not been entirely adapted to education. Such context recognizes the importance of school documentation which follows a large and complex bureaucratic system. Even though there is generally a negative attitude towards documentation, it should not only revolve around the process of collecting evidence and artifacts but be used to correct and innovate work at both institutional and individual level. It can also be a valuable source for scientific research. By treating documentation in this way, we can give it a role of a reflexive practitioner and a critical friend that provides important information to those who want to listen, which makes it visible listening and pedagogy of listening.

The Impact of the Principal Leadership Style on Teacher Job Satisfaction among Arab Teachers in Israel: A Qualitative Analysis

This study examines the impact of the management and leadership style of a school principal on teachers’ satisfaction in the Arab sector in Israel. The article presents central concepts of the research and the influence of each of the leadership and management styles of principals on teachers’ satisfaction within an Arab school in Israel. Teachers’ satisfaction (the dependent variable) refers to various variables related to teachers’ well-being at school, such as organizational commitment and motivation in the workplace, that are also linked to the teacher satisfaction (Arar & Masri-Herzallah, 2016). Accordingly, these variables are presented with reference to their definition, their impact, and the way they are affected by the management and leadership styles. The research is based on the qualitative methodology, in which we conducted observations in these Arab schools in Israel in and around the Arab city of Nazareth. In these observations, we visited the schools and observed how teachers and principals communicate and whether teachers were satisfied from their interaction with the principal.

Innovation in Higher Education Management and Leadership

Innovation in higher education management and leadership has experienced a continuous increase in demand, worldwide. The emergence of global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, has accelerated the adoption and implementation of this innovation. Furthermore, technological advancement can be attributed to changes in educational management and leadership. The use of business models, theories, and methods such as the Education Management Information System (EMIS) has improved the collection, analysis, interpretation, storage, and retrieval of data to increase how they make well-informed decisions. Therefore, the strategies employed in higher education management and leadership have undergone many changes and updates. However, further research is required to ensure that best practices, evidence, and data-driven methods are used to improve staff/follower satisfaction and high performance of students and teachers in higher education institutions. This study explores the impact of innovation on management and leadership in higher education institutions. Findings from several countries show a strong positive correlation between increase in innovation and better educational management and leadership. Additionally, openness to change and happiness of stakeholders in higher education institutions increases when leaders and educational management are trained through conferences and benchmarking activities. Hence, using emerging technology and openness to change through education, awareness creation, and training, the level of innovation in universities and other higher education institutions increases, which in turn promotes performance and productivity. Received: 11 August 2021 / Accepted: 3 October 2021 / Published: 5 November 2021

Dentistry in South Africa and the need for management and leadership training

Dental professionals face many challenges due to a rapidly changing environment, and are acknowledging the need for essential leadership skills to perform optimally. We assessed key stakeholders’ views about the need for management and leadership training in dentistry in South Africa . The aim of this study, was to assess the need for leadership and management training in Dentistry in South Africa from an industry perspective. A qualitative study. Purposive sampling of 14 Senior Managers in the dental environment and 11 recently qualified dentists in South Africa. We conducted one-on-one and telephonic interviews guided by a semi-structured questionnaire with open-ended questions. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and data was thematically analysed. Participants expressed concerns about dentistry in South Africa. All participants mentioned financial constraints, including the high cost of setting up a practice, high cost of imported consumables and dwindling support from medical schemes. Participants stated that strong leadership and managerial skills were important for dealing with these challenges. Inculcating these skills will make a remarkable difference in enhancing services and providing purposive direction within the profession.

Medical Students Perceptions Over Their Motivations and Competencies to Volunteer in COVID-19 Pandemic - An Opportunity to Develop Leadership Skills During Medical Training

BackgroundConsidering evidence on competency-based curriculum and the benefits of volunteering, this study highlights new ideas to improve medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated the motivations and perceptions on competencies developed as leadership and management skills in medical students who joined COVID-19 Volunteering Program in a brazilian medical school.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional, quantitative and qualitative study involving medical students from the University of Sao Paulo (USP)/Brazil. They were invited to participate in an institutional Volunteering Program during the pandemic, and filled online application forms, including sociodemographic fields and two open-ended questions about motivation to volunteer and perceptions on their own competencies. At the end of the Program, students who were involved in management-related activities were also invited to participate in focus group interviews to track their perceptions about volunteering in this area. Data were submitted to descriptive and content analysis methods. All participants provided informed consent through electronic signature.Results286 medical students have subscribed to the Volunteering Program: 171 (60%) were men, 152 (53%) were enrolled in 5th year and 158 (55%) were 23-25 years old. One-hundred and twelve (44%) students volunteered motivated by altruistic reasons, 95 (37%) reported duty and 47 (19%) prioritized academic interests. Concerning CanMEDS competencies, 91 (36%) students’ responses matched with the Scholar component, followed by 51 (20%) with Collaborator, 49 (20%) with Professional, 32 (13%) with Communicator, 17 (7%) with Leader and 11 (4%) with Health Advocate. In focus groups, students reported the importance of management and leadership skills as a curricular component, motivations to volunteer, the acquired skills from volunteering in management and leadership-related activities, highlighting the development of resilient attitude.ConclusionsStudents who participated in the FMUSP Volunteering Program reported being motivated to help others (altruistic reasons) and to serve society as future health professionals (duty). Knowledge and work-related competencies prevailed over leadership or soft skills, emphasizing the importance of including such activities in curriculum. Participating in management-related activities could help develop a more resilient attitude towards medical training.Take home messagesVolunteering programs offer students opportunities to develop essential competencies for the future health professional. Thus, we should think about including such activities in curricular structure.