How One Public School District Implemented Interest-Based Bargaining Arthur Conrad Ebert
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Eastern Michigan University DigitalCommons@EMU Master's Theses, and Doctoral Dissertations, and Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations Graduate Capstone Projects 2017 How one public school district implemented interest-based bargaining Arthur Conrad Ebert Follow this and additional works at: http://commons.emich.edu/theses Part of the Counseling Commons, and the Leadership Studies Commons Recommended Citation Ebert, Arthur Conrad, "How one public school district implemented interest-based bargaining" (2017). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 754. http://commons.emich.edu/theses/754 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Master's Theses, and Doctoral Dissertations, and Graduate Capstone Projects at DigitalCommons@EMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@EMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Running Head: IMPLEMENTING INTEREST-BASED BARGAINING i How One Public School District Implemented Interest-Based Bargaining by Arthur Conrad Ebert Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Leadership and Counseling Eastern Michigan University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Educational Leadership Dissertation Committee: Ella M. Burton, EdD, Chairperson Michael McVey, EdD Rema Reynolds, PhD Ronald Williamson, EdD September 12, 2017 Ypsilanti, Michigan IMPLEMENTING INTEREST-BASED BARGAINING ii Abstract School districts implement a variety of initiatives that too often fall short. This case study investigated how one public school district in southeastern Michigan implemented interest based-bargaining (IBB). The study also sought to understand the factors that influenced the decision-making process and what was considered when making implementation decisions. By carrying out this study, the researcher expanded the current literature base that districts can draw upon should they decide to implement IBB. District’s implementing IBB can use this study to better inform their decision-making process. The primary data sources were the primary decision makers involved with implementing IBB in the southeastern public school district that was studied. Participants came from the following groups: (a) district leadership, (b) union leadership, and (c) IBB facilitators. To investigate how IBB was implemented, this study utilized a qualitative approach, using unstructured interviews, documentation, and archival records to gather data. Data analysis was done concurrently with data collection, and the researcher condensed the data by hand into codes that emerged through the data analysis process. Coding included both first and second level codes, and tools such as matrix displays were used to present the data. The interwoven nature of the data analysis process allowed the researcher to move back-and-forth between data collection, data condensation, data display, and drawing conclusions. Eight themes emerged from the analysis of how one southeastern Michigan public school district implemented IBB, and influences, considerations, successes, and challenges related to each theme were identified. The themes were products of how the district implemented IBB and speak to trust, transparency, collaboration, and collegiality among staff. The themes were (a) Board of Education (BOE) members on IBB teams, (b) increased Paraeducator Association (PA) IMPLEMENTING INTEREST-BASED BARGAINING iii and Secretarial Association (SA) voice, (c) consistent joint communications, (d) commitment to organization, (e) commitment to the process, (f) willingness to open communication, (g) compensation solved mid-process, and (h) formation of numerous committees. Through the use of storytelling and presentation of the eight themes, the researcher was able to unpack how the district implemented IBB. IMPLEMENTING INTEREST-BASED BARGAINING iv Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... ii List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ ix Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 The Narrative of One Public School District in Southeastern Michigan ............................ 1 History of District Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining .......................................... 3 Exploring Partnership and Collaboration.......................................................................... 10 Exploring IBB ................................................................................................................... 12 Statement of the Problem .................................................................................................. 13 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................... 13 Significance of the Study .................................................................................................. 13 Research Questions ........................................................................................................... 14 Definition of Terms........................................................................................................... 15 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 19 Chapter 2: Literature Review .................................................................................................... 20 Decision-Making Process ................................................................................................. 20 History of Collective Bargaining ...................................................................................... 21 Traditional Bargaining ...................................................................................................... 22 History of IBB................................................................................................................... 28 IBB Overview ................................................................................................................... 30 IBB Training ..................................................................................................................... 31 IBB Facilitation ................................................................................................................. 32 IMPLEMENTING INTEREST-BASED BARGAINING v IBB Process ....................................................................................................................... 34 IBB Outcomes ................................................................................................................... 40 Perceptions of IBB ............................................................................................................ 45 Criticism and Challenges of IBB ...................................................................................... 46 Other Collaborative Collective Bargaining Models ......................................................... 47 Differences Between Traditional Bargaining and IBB ..................................................... 50 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................... 53 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 54 Chapter 3: Methodology............................................................................................................. 55 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 55 Data Sources ..................................................................................................................... 55 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................... 58 Researcher-as-Instrument ................................................................................................. 60 Ethical Considerations ...................................................................................................... 61 Limitations ........................................................................................................................ 61 Delimitations ..................................................................................................................... 62 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 62 Chapter 4: Findings .................................................................................................................... 64 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 64 Research Questions ........................................................................................................... 65 Data Sources 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