Investigation of the relationship between teachers' perception of organizational democracy and organizational synergy

The aim of this study is to determine teachers' perception levels regarding organizational democracy and organizational synergy, and to reveal the extent to which their perceptions of organizational democracy predict organizational synergy. In this context, the relationship between teachers' evaluations of democratic practices within the organization and the synergistic structure that emerges in the institution is analyzed, with the goal of developing a deeper understanding of the functioning of the organizational structure. The research was conducted using a relational survey model, one of the quantitative research designs. The study population consists of teachers working in public schools during the 2024–2025 academic year, while the sample includes 401 teachers selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using the "Organizational Democracy Scale" and the "Organizational Synergy Scale." Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis were employed in the analysis of the data. According to the findings, teachers' perceptions of both organizational democracy and organizational synergy are at a high level. The highest mean scores were observed in the "equality" and "transparency" sub-dimensions of organizational democracy and the "integration" and "interaction and appreciation" sub-dimensions of organizational synergy. Regression analysis revealed that the sub-dimensions of organizational democracy significantly predicted organizational synergy, accounting for approximately 64.8% of the total variance in synergy. Among these, "transparency" emerged as the strongest predictor. While "justice," "accountability," and "equality" also contributed significantly, the "participation and criticism" sub-dimension was not found to be a significant predictor of organizational synergy. The results of the study highlight that a democratic management approach plays a key role in enhancing organizational synergy. In particular, transparent, fair, and accountable practices foster collaboration, integration, and trust among employees. Based on these findings, it is recommended that democratic leadership practices be promoted in educational institutions, participation mechanisms