| Abstract [eng] |
This work is dedicated to analyzing the influence of the internal image of vocational education institutions on teachers' loyalty. Teacher shortages and increasing turnover are among the most significant problems in Lithuania's education system, necessitating the identification of ways to attract and retain competent educators. The internal image, defined as employees’ perception of the work environment, organizational culture, and values, is one of the key factors influencing job satisfaction and employee loyalty. This study examines how internal organizational aspects, such as organizational culture and socio-psychological climate, foster loyalty to the vocational education institution where teachers are employed. The theoretical part of the study includes an analysis of the concepts of internal image and loyalty, as well as the main types of loyalty. The analysis of the factors shaping the internal image covers organizational culture and socio-psychological climate. Elements such as rituals, symbols, communication, and support cultivate a sense of community, increase trust and job satisfaction, strengthen employees’ identification with the organization, and encourage active participation in organizational activities. The socio-psychological climate, encompassing unity, harmony, mutual assistance, collaboration, support, goodwill, purposefulness, and team closeness, enhances teachers’ emotional connection with the organization. Loyalty theory is defined as an employee's emotional, psychological, and value-based bond with the organization, motivating them to actively contribute to achieving common goals. A review of scientific literature identified three main types of loyalty—affective, continuance, and normative—used to assess employees' level of commitment to the organization. In this study, the concepts of loyalty and organizational commitment are treated as synonymous. The empirical part of the research is based on a quantitative method using an anonymous survey aimed at assessing the attitudes of vocational education institution teachers towards the internal image of their organization and their loyalty. The survey respondents were teachers from vocational education institutions across Lithuania, selected to ensure representativeness and inclusion of all Lithuanian regions. The study analyzed how elements of the internal image affect teachers' emotional attachment and decisions to remain with the organization. The research findings revealed that teachers' emotional loyalty is directly influenced by the quality of the internal image. Older teachers are more likely to feel pride in the organization, significant emotional attachment, and moral commitment, while younger teachers place greater emphasis on career opportunities and material factors. The quality of the psychological climate, collegiality, and managerial support are crucial factors increasing teachers’ job satisfaction and attachment to the organization. Negative evaluations of the internal image are often linked to disloyal employees who work in the organization only because they lack better job alternatives. It was noted that organizations focusing on strengthening their internal image can more effectively retain employees, reduce the dominance of continuance loyalty (associated with high costs of changing employers), and promote affective and normative attachment, which reflect an emotional connection with the organization and should be the aspiration of every employer. The study demonstrates that an organization’s internal image is one of the primary factors shaping teachers' loyalty. A positively perceived image fosters employees’ pride and willingness to contribute to organizational goals. Strengthening the internal image not only ensures a better emotional connection between employees and the organization but also contributes to its purposefulness and success. |
