Role of Trust and Collective Efficacy among the Faculty Members at University of Isfahan, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, and Isfahan Industrial University, Iran*

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Sayed Hamid Raza Shavaran 1
Saeed Rajaeepour, 2
Iraj Kazemi, 3
Bibi-Eshrat Zamani 4
1 PhD Candidate, Educational Administration, School of Education, The University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Educational Administration, School of Education, The University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Statistics, School of Sciences, The University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
4 Associate Professor, Instructional Technology, The University of Isfahan. Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Universities and their faculty members are responsible for educating students for social
responsibilities. If the faculty members are to contribute to the attainment of university and societal goals,
they should trust their dean, colleagues, and students. This will facilitate the collective efficacy of faculty
members. If faculty members believe in their collective abilities, the attainment of academic goals
becomes feasible. The main objective of this research was to study the relationship between trust and
collective efficacy of faculty members in Isfahan selective public universities, Iran.
Methods: This was a descriptive-correlation study. From all faculty members of University of Isfahan,
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, and Isfahan Industrial University a sample of 261 subjects was
selected through proportional stratified random sampling in 2011. Data gathering tools included the
standardized questionnaire of organizational trust and a self-administered questionnaire of collective
efficacy, which their reliability coefficients were estimated 0.81 and 0.89, respectively. To analyze the
collected data, SPSS software version 16 was utilized and analysis was done through descriptive and
inferential statistics including correlation and multiple regression.
Results: The findings indicated that collective efficacy was affected by faculty members’ trust and its
components in all three universities. However, collective efficacy at University of Isfahan could be
predicted only through trust in students and colleagues. Trust in students affected the collective efficacy of
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences faculty members, while the collective efficacy of faculty members
in Isfahan Industrial University could be predicted through trust in dean and colleagues.
Conclusion: Collective efficacy of the faculty members may be predicted through trust and its components.
It is, therefore, suggested that university chancellors, college deans, and departments chairpersons attempt to
create and maintain a space of trust for faculty members. This can be accomplished through encouraging
cooperative culture, maintaining coordination among academic departments, and faculty empowerment.
These measures would lead to the improvement of university performance in general

Keywords

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Health Information Management
Volume 9, Issue 7
Autumn 2012
Pages 958-968