| Abstract [eng] |
In the modern education system, principles of operation based on cooperation, partnership and community empowerment are gaining increasing importance, which change the traditional hierarchical approach to the management of educational institutions and promote the involvement of community members in the educational process and decision-making. Preschool education institutions are increasingly perceived as open communities, in which educators, parents, children, administration and local community play an important role, therefore organizational culture is becoming one of the most important factors determining mutual relations, trust, cooperation and quality of education among community members (Schein, 2017; Sparre, 2020). Scientific research shows that a participatory organizational culture strengthens community spirit, increases parents' trust in the institution, promotes professional empowerment of educators and improves the emotional safety of employees, but in practice, community participation often remains fragmented and limited to formal forms of participation (Weckström ir kt., 2020; Weckström ir kt., 2021; Jenkins, 2009). The importance of community involvement is emphasized in international and national educational documents. They emphasize the importance of cooperation, partnership and community participation in order to ensure quality education (European Commission, 2020; OECD, 2021; Government of the Republic of Lithuania, 2023; ŠMSM, 2015). However, there is still a lack of consistent research in the preschool education sector that reveals the possibilities of strengthening a participatory organizational culture in the context of specific institutions. The novelty of the topic is revealed by the fact that the factors of strengthening a participatory organizational culture are analyzed in the context of the Panevėžys kindergarten “Kregždutė”, in order to determine the prerequisites for the participation of community members and organizational factors that influence the strengthening of a participatory organizational culture. The research problem is formulated as a question of what factors determine the strengthening of a participatory organizational culture in a preschool educational institution. The object of the research is the strengthening of a participatory organizational culture in preschool educational institutions. The aim of the project is to determine the factors of strengthening a participatory organizational culture in the Panevėžys kindergarten “Kregždutė”. Project objectives: 1) to develop a theoretical model of strengthening a participatory organizational culture in preschool educational institutions; 2) to examine the international and national legal regulation of the principles of participatory organizational culture in preschool educational institutions; 3) to investigate the expression of factors strengthening the participatory organizational culture in the Panevėžys nursery school “Kregždutė”. The study used an analysis of scientific literature, an analysis of international and national educational documents, an analysis of the institution’s documents, a questionnaire survey of teachers and parents, and semi-structured interviews with administration representatives. The empirical study is based on a mixed methods strategy, applying a case analysis strategy and triangulation of methods. The results of the study revealed that the strengthening of the participatory organizational culture in the Panevėžys nursery school “Kregždutė” is associated with listening to the community, cooperation, encouraging the expression of opinions, involving the community in decision-making, and developing partnerships with parents. The study found that the principles of participation are reflected in the institution’s strategic and operational documents, but more active community initiative and involvement in decision-making remain an area for improvement. The results of the study can be applied to improve the activities of the analyzed institution, strengthening community participation and a collaborative organizational culture. The final project consists of three chapters: the first analyzes the theoretical foundations of organizational culture and presents a theoretical model for strengthening a participatory organizational culture, the second examines the international and national legal regulation of the principles of this culture, and the third presents the research methodology and results of the empirical study in the Panevėžys nursery school "Kregždutė". At the end of the final project, conclusions, recommendations, lists of literature and information sources and appendices are presented. |
