Principals' Systems Thinking Attribute: Exploring a Principal–Middle Leader Relational Demography Perspective

• In Event: Organizational Theory Practice and Promise

Abstract

Relying on information processing and attribution theories, which relate to the formation of leadership perceptions and attributes, the current study seeks to examine the influence of principal-middle-leaders relational demography variables (gender, education, and tenure) (dis)similarity on middle-leaders Principal System Thinking (PST) attribute and how such relationships are contingent upon the duration of acquaintance between the dyad. Data was collected from 305 dyads (middle-leaders and their principals) from 101 schools. MANOVA analysis showed that PST levels were higher in gender-similar relationships than in gender-dissimilar ones. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that duration of acquaintance moderate the relationship between principal-middle-leaders gender (dis)similarity and PST attribute. These findings may broaden our understanding regarding potential antecedents of PST attributions and its implication for schools.

Authors

• Pascale Sarah Benoliel, Bar-Ilan University

• Haim Shaked, Hemdat Hadarom College of Education

• Nadav Nehama, Bar Ilan University

• Chen Schechter, Bar-Ilan University