From aspiration to succession and transition:
An exploratory study of the fundamental principles of sustainable leadership from the
perspectives of newly appointed principals in Irish primary education
McGovern, Éadaoin Marie
(2015)
From aspiration to succession and transition:
An exploratory study of the fundamental principles of sustainable leadership from the
perspectives of newly appointed principals in Irish primary education.
Doctor of Education thesis, Dublin City University.
The purpose of this study is to examine organisational structures and practices in Irish
primary school settings, in order to identify features which are in support of sustainable
leadership. Sustainable leadership in this study is viewed as a contextual and adaptive
construct, supporting leadership activities which help organisations to meet their needs
in the long term. In accordance with the wider literature, the study proposes that
sustainable leadership practices support school agency and improvement.
The study draws heavily upon sustainable leadership theory advocated in the wider
international literature and also connects with research relating to Irish primary
education in an era of unprecedented economic and social change. Specific issues are
framed using the three fundamental principles of sustainability proposed by Hargreaves
and Fink (2006). The core principles align with the early career stages of principal
leaders and are categorised as; leading learning, succession planning and distributed
leadership activities. The study seeks to investigate the perspectives and experiences of
Newly Appointed Principals (NAPs) in Irish primary school settings, along their career
trajectory from aspiring to novice principal leaders in schools.
A combination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies were utilised to investigate
the key research questions devised in this case. A preliminary national survey of NAPs
was administered. Perceptions and experiences relating to this population grouping were
gathered using items linked to the three core principles of sustainability. These items
were developed following a review of the wider literature. Informed by the survey data,
in-depth interviews with NAPs were carried out. The aim was to complement and
enrich the survey data. Both datasets were integrated to produce a rich body of evidence
related directly to the concept of sustainable leadership.
The study contributes to existing research in Ireland and expands it by documenting
evidence relating to a specific leadership sub sample. It examines also, aspects of early
career leadership experiences and practices which have yet to be researched in the Irish
education field. The findings indicate that there are a number of significant issues which
inhibit sustainable leadership practices in Irish primary school contexts. These issues
are framed and linked specifically to instructional leadership capacity, succession
planning procedures and structures, and distributed leadership practices in this study.
Metadata
Item Type:
Thesis (Doctor of Education)
Date of Award:
November 2015
Refereed:
No
Supervisor(s):
Furlong, Catherine, O’Connor, Maura and Corcoran, Dolores