Teachers' Views on Organizational Silence

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that cause organizational silence in teachers, to determine the problems that arise due to organizational silence in educational institutions and to reveal the ways teachers cope with organizational silence. The study group of this research consists of 12 teachers. Case study approach, one of the qualitative research techniques, was used in the study. Data were collected using semi-structured interview questions. According to the findings of the study, the participants stated that organizational silence occurs due to an atmosphere of fear, communication problems that cause organizational silence, unfair practices, an unstable environment and various other factors. According to the teachers, the main problems caused by organizational silence are decreased commitment to the organization, decreased impact on educational activities, decreased quality of education, decreased motivation and consequently decreased job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction. According to the teachers, providing a democratic school environment, efforts to improve effective interpersonal communication, ensuring organizational justice, school management's understanding and tolerance, and participation in decision-making processes were considered as ways to overcome organizational silence.