O papel da comunicação na liderança dos coordenadores de um agrupamento de escolas

Abstract

Communication has been an intensively discussed theme within the context of educational organizations. In the search of quality within the school environment many institutions have been focusing their efforts on organizational communication as a means to enhance the teacher’s craft and bestow uniqueness on the school itself. Communication is an interactive process through which we share messages, ideas, feelings and emotions that in turn can influence people’s behaviours based on their beliefs, values, culture and life experience. In that vein this work centres its investigative efforts on the importance of communication at the level of the coordinator of a school cluster and in doing so tries to understand in what way communication can improve said cluster’s work flow. Reputable authors who defend the importance of this line of thought have been used as reference to allow for more in depth discussions regarding this subject. All empirical data that supports this study was collected during a detailed study of a school cluster regarding the subject at hand. Using qualitative investigation as the basis of its strategy, this work tries to make a very effective use of the analysis of documents as well as questionnaires and interviews in its quest for complementary information which, through the crossing of qualitative and quantitative data allowed the use of both methods’ strengths through data triangulation. This study’s findings point to effective results with the current use of communication. However, there are certain barriers that prevent communication to be more effective. Communication within the cluster is defined by a descending flow through formal communication channels like memos and communiqués sent through electronic means. It was also determined that, as the main party responsible for transmitting information to the lower parts of the educational command chain, the coordinator plays a pivotal role in the communicative process. As intermediaries in the leadership chain it is apparent that they should acquire the necessary skills to provide effective communication and improve the organizational effectiveness of the academic cluster they are assigned to.

Date of Award	2015
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	José Maria de Almeida (Supervisor)