Sources of Systems-Thinking in School Leadership

• In Event: 66.080 - Roundtable Session 26
  In Roundtable Session: 66.080-3 - Exploring Leadership Frameworks That Empower School Communities

Abstract

Systems-thinking is a framework for seeing wholes. It is considered to be an effective means of dealing with real-world problems, and therefore may be useful in today's school leadership. This study explores the sources of systems-thinking in school leadership, which enable the development of systems-thinking among school principals. Data were collected among prospective, novice and experienced principals via 82 interviews, 6 focus-groups and 27 observations. Data analysis was conducted by generating themes through an inductive process of condensing, coding, categorizing and theorizing. Findings indicate four sources of systems-thinking in school leadership: management experience, role models, academic studies, and natural tendency. These findings expand the existing knowledge about systems-thinking in school leadership, and may assist in finding ways to accelerate it.

Authors

• Haim Shaked, Bar Ilan Univerity

• Chen Schechter, Bar-Ilan University