Faculty of Education - Theses

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Author: Fidge, Heather × Start date: 1958 × Type: Masters Coursework thesis × Subject: School management and organization × Subject: Victoria ×

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    Leadership teams in selected self-managing primary and secondary schools of the future: principal and teacher perspectives
    Fidge, Heather ( 2001)
    Restructuring empowers schools and challenges deeply held beliefs and customs about schools and schooling. While some commentators have reservations, others see teams facilitating the move to the humanistic organisations of the twenty-first century. This study explored the phenomenon of leadership teams in self-managing Schools of the Future in Victoria, Australia. A survey built on Organisational Behaviour theories investigated the extent of the phenomenon and hermeneutic phenomenological interviews without an a priori framework explored complexities. Responses were aggregated and a cross case analysis given. While some findings reflected those of scholars in the field others differed and some provided new insights. The high level of support traits and sources received indicates a similarity of views and understandings among schools and between principals and teachers of teams, teamwork and teamship. Findings revealed: � support for teams was pervasive throughout the school and into the community � teams, usually small but also large, were a feature of the workscape � teams met fortnightly or more frequently � teams worked on a diversity of facets across the full spectrum of school life � funding, support, refreshments and reasonable timelines facilitated teamwork � teams had authority to make decisions, set goals and organise their review � teams were responsible for achieving goals and reviewing achievements with others � teams used a variety of avenues of interaction, and influence and information sources � communication channels throughout the school and beyond were open and used often � incentives included Intrinsic motivator, Cost free, Not cost free and monetary rewards � educators, particularly Principal, principal's teams, were a dynamic factor in the milieu � the similarity between teams and committees was how membership was established � the yin and yang of teams - people and process - which highlighted the customs, values and essential practices that define the mores of teams in schools � the people and process of teamwork benefited members within and beyond the team � teams enhanced school life and teamwork enhanced team products � links between the people, process, product and policy in team orientated organisations � the individual nature of the award system posed an ethical-fiscal conundrum for teams � concerns about people attitudes and behaviour exposed the dark side of teams � new skills were needed to deal with issues related to team dynamics, the role of teams in schools and possible future scenarios.