Abstract

PIRELA DE FARIA, Ligia del Carmen. Leadership and Organizational Culture in Basic Education Institutions. Revista Venezolana de Gerencia [online]. 2010, vol.15, n.51, pp.486-503. ISSN 1315-9984.

The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between leadership and organizational culture in educational institutions, based on the theoretical postulates of Burns (2003), Bass and Avolio (1994) and Schein (1992). A quantitative approach was used, with descriptive correlational methodology, on the population of principals and teachers at public basic education schools in the City of Maracaibo, where a sample of 278 was extracted through multistage, stratified cluster sampling. Results indicate a medium high self-perception and perception of the leader for transformative leadership and its results, and medium low perception for transactional leadership, with significant differences between the two perceptions. The culture is perceived as medium high with regard to formality, direction, organizational integration, human resource development, support systems, commitment, orientation toward results, rewards and benefits. Low and some significant correlations were found between organizational culture and leadership from the leader’s perspective, while from the follower’s perspective, they were average and significant. It is therefore concluded that an adequate perception of leadership and culture exists and that they are related.

Keywords : Leadership; organizational culture; basic education.