The Effect of Organizational and Group Characteristics of Faculty's Perception of Climate in Schools of Nursing

Abstract

Introduction Every organization has an aspect known as internal environment, milieu, institutional atmosphere, or psychological or organizational climate. Organizational climate has been defined in very broad terms, such as the personality of the organization (Forehand and Gilmer, 1964), the feel of the employees (Dressler, 1977, p. 286), "an umbrella concept" (Hall, 1975, p. 226) or "an employee's subjective impression or perception of his organization" (Lawler, Douglas, Hall and Oldham, 1974). Research Problem Although organizational climate studies have been common in industry and elementary and secondary schools, relatively few climate studies in Canadian post-secondary institutions were found (Russell, 1974, p. 79). No studies were found which investigated organizational climate in schools of nursing.