From Policy to Practice: Organizational Justice Decision Quality, Crisis Management on the Leadership Practices of School Leaders

This study investigated the influence of organizational justice, decision quality, and crisis management on the leadership practices of school leaders in the Divisions of Bukidnon, Valencia City, and Malaybalay City. Utilizing a descriptive-correlational research design and quantitative approach, data were collected from 250 purposively selected school leaders, including principals, head teachers, officers-in-charge, master teachers, and program coordinators. Standardized survey instruments measured four dimensions of organizational justice (distributive, procedural, interpersonal, informational), five facets of decision quality (appropriate frame, creative alternatives, clear values, and tradeoffs, reasonable reasoning, commitment to action), and four aspects of crisis management (commitment of management, awareness, flexibility, learning). Leadership practices were assessed based on the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH). Findings revealed that all three variables- organizational justice (overall mean = 4.20), decision quality (4.23), and crisis management (4.22)-were perceived at high levels among school leaders. Distributive justice and reasonable reasoning emerged as the highest-rated sub-dimensions in their respective domains. In contrast, procedural and informational justice, as well as creative alternatives and post-crisis learning, indicated areas for improvement. Leadership practices across all PPSSH domains were also rated high, reflecting the consistent implementation of strategic, instructional, operational, and relational leadership. Correlation analysis showed significant positive relationships between organizational justice, decision quality, and crisis management with leadership practices. However, stepwise multiple regression identified clear values and tradeoffs, commitment of management, distributive justice, and reasonable reasoning as the strongest predictors of effective leadership. The study concludes that enhancing decision-making, promoting fairness, and crisis management skills among school leaders is crucial for improving leadership practices, with implications for professional development, policy, and succession planning.