Challenges of Managing Informal Organization in Secondary Schools of Jimma Zone

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to assess the challenges of managing informal organizations in secondary schools of Jimma Zone. To realize this purpose, descriptive survey method was employed. Accordingly, five Woreda’s; six secondary schools on the basis of their year of establishment were selected using cluster and purposive sampling techniques respectively. Besides, 111 teachers, 12 principals, 12 PTA members and 6 Woreda supervisors were selected using random sampling technique and descriptive survey was employed. To collect relevant data, questionnaire and interview were employed. The questionnaire was used to collect data from teachers and principals. Interview and document analysis were also used to collect data from Parents Teacher Associations members and woreda supervisors. The quantitative data were analyzed using frequency, standard and deviation and the qualitative data was verbally analyzed Findings of the study indicated that a reasonable amount of effort is made by the school in taking possible administrative actions to promote the bureaucratic dimension of an informal organization. Furthermore, the finding of the study demonstrated that the school had moderate/ average level of performance in accomplishing the hierarchy of structure related activities. Further finding also indicated that there is a feeling of high level of dissatisfaction pertaining to some rule development and deployment dimension of managing informal groups in the Schools. The conclusion of the study revealed that, In spite of the fact that secondary school principals demonstrated low or poor performance in very few aspects of informal group management, in the majority of informal organization management dimensions, they have demonstrated adequate knowledge base and relevant management knowledge to utilize the potential of informal organizations in their respective school. The study also revealed that, with few exceptions of, the principals and the teachers believe that there is a moderate /reasonable degree of school principal’s impersonal orientation. Cooperation and accepting that the very irrationality one tries to minimize can contribute to the foundation of effective informal organization. And the information gathered from interviewers support the above conclusion. Lastly, the finding of the study identified that the following were challenges usually faced by secondary school principals in harnessing the benefits of informal organizations in their respective schools includes: lack of rational knowledge of informal groups and informal networks, poor communication channels of school leaders, poor leadership skills, poor coordination, unwillingness to involve followers in decision making, political pressure, partiality lack of materials and budget and poor organizational culture are major bottlenecks that impede school principals in effectively managing informal organizations. Based on the findings of the study and conclusions made, the following recommendations ere forwarded. Effectively managing an informal school organization is an important leadership responsibility for school principals. The building of such synergy and cohesion among school members requires ability to diagnose and manage the informal groups in their nascent stages before they blow out of proportion and hinder students’ academic performance.