Title: An academic college in the front lines of war: a study of organisational coping

Authors: Atalia Mosek, Sara Arnon, Ayala Cohen

Addresses: Department of Social Work, Tel Hai Academic College, Upper Galilee 12210, Israel. ' Department of Multidisciplinary Studies, Tel Hai Academic College, Upper Galilee 12210, Israel. ' Department of Social Work, Tel Hai Academic College, Upper Galilee 12210, Israel

Abstract: A phenomenological case study of organisational coping during war describes the strategic stages and their perception by 49 participants representing the college|s four sectors (management, faculty, administrative personnel and students). The findings show that the war did not cause severe and lasting harm to the functioning of the college. However, an analysis of the data highlights the successfully fulfilled crisis management tasks in contrast to the neglected tasks. The results suggest that a greater balance between transactional and transformative styles of leadership is required for this type of organisation during crisis and especially upon its conclusion.

Keywords: crisis management; emergency management; organisational coping; leadership styles; coping strategies; contingency plans; qualitative research; colleges; front lines; conflicts; war; wars; phenomenological studies; strategic stages; strategic perception; faculties; administrative personnel; college students; neglected tasks; transactional leadership; transformative leadership; Middle East; Lebanon; Israel; Hezbollah; Tel Hai Academic College; Galilee; education management; higher education; universities; competitive edge; competitiveness.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2011.039486

International Journal of Management in Education, 2011 Vol.5 No.2/3, pp.226 - 240

Published online: 12 Feb 2015 *

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