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Investigating Trust and Organisational Effectiveness in a SME within the Irish Higher Educational Sector

Carpenter, Alexandra (2021) Investigating Trust and Organisational Effectiveness in a SME within the Irish Higher Educational Sector. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

Trust is part of our everyday lives; it is a complex concept which occurs not only in personal lives but also within the workplace. During the current COVID-19 crisis, employees and managers have found themselves trying to sustain meaningful relationships while working remotely (Hickok, 2021). Additionally, organisations are trying to continue to meet their objectives and goals and operate effectively during these times. Therefore, it appears to be a fitting time in the world to investigate these two concepts in the workplace.

This study aimed to explore the two concepts, trust and organisational effectiveness, in a small to medium organisation operating in higher education in Ireland. The researcher explores the definition of the two concepts within the current setting of the organisation prior to carrying out quantitative research on both.

Both employees and management (N=45) participated in this quantitative research study and responded to Cooks and Walls (1980) measure of interpersonal trust. Additionally, participants were afforded the opportunity to give written feedback in relation to trust, which was then coded and analysed. Management (N=7), answered Cameron’s (19780) organisation effectiveness questionnaire. A combination of statistical tests including a fisher-exact test, a pearson correlation analysis, an ANOVA analysis and a multiple regression model, were carried out to investigate four hypotheses.

Results indicated there to be no significant association between trust and overall organisation effectiveness in this setting. However, there was a significant relationship found between two types of trust, horizontal and vertical. Length of employment service was found not to significantly impact levels of trust. Finally, variables contributing to the organisation were found to significantly predict overall organisation effectiveness, whereas variables relating to student did not.

Limitations and future recommendations are discussed in relation to these findings within this paper. The research concludes with recommendations that the organisation can make to improve based on the findings alongside with the practical implications of these recommendations.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Subjects: L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management
D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain > Ireland
Divisions: School of Business > Master of Arts in Human Resource Management
Depositing User: Clara Chan
Date Deposited: 15 Dec 2021 16:12
Last Modified: 15 Dec 2021 16:12
URI: https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/5243

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