Sources of Systems Thinking in School Leadership

Abstract

Systems thinking, a framework for seeing the whole, is an effective means of dealing with real-world problems. This study explored the sources of systems thinking in school leadership. Qualitative data were collected via 82 semistructured interviews and 6 focus groups, among pre-service principals, novice principals and experienced principals. Data analysis included four stages: condensing, coding, categorizing, and theorizing. The analysis yielded four sources of systems thinking in school leadership: (1) managerial experience, (2) role model, (3) academic study, and (4) natural tendency. The findings expand limited existing knowledge about systems thinking in school leadership, and may assist in establishing ways to enhancing and accelerating the development of systems thinking among prospective and active school principals.

Systems Thinking Among Enrollees in a Principal Preparation Program

“…When explicitly incorporating the study of systems thinking into preparation programs’ curriculum, a critical perspective is necessary as well: Whose interests are being served by higher capacity of systems thinking in school settings? If systems thinking is nurtured through organizational experiences (Author 1 & Author 2, 2016, 2017), how is it influenced by and interacted with organizational knowledge, power, and perceptions of the “truth”? Does promoting systemic school perspective help to secure the hegemony of the administration?…”

“…Likewise, our prior study focusing specifically on school leaders (Author 1 & Author 2, 2016) implied that principals’ systems thinking develops mainly when learning occurs in direct relation to their educational work. That is, connections to real-time daily challenges in schools are central to principals’ learning process.…”

“…Although the innate talent may be a critical part of personal systems thinking ability, it is only one part of a system where multiple interactions occur. Thus, systems thinking development through the interaction between innate talent and learning should be emphasized (Author 1 & Author 2, 2014, 2016, 2017).…”

Systems thinking leadership: New explorations for school improvement

“…Knowledge about the development of systems thinking enablers and barriers is extremely limited. Further research should expand knowledge concerning the sources of systems thinking in school leadership, which are the foundations upon which principals could acquire their ability to perform at the systemic level (Shaked and Schechter, 2016; Hitchins, 2003), and to identify the developmental process of systems thinking corresponding to the milestones in their managerial careers. Such research should also seek ways to instruct the systems thinking leadership perspective, examining how and to what extent it can be taught in principal preparatory programmes and throughout the induction process with a principal mentor.…”

“…It is also one of the toughest and riskiest parts of the job; bad decisions could damage a school and a career, sometimes irreparably (Johnson and Kruse, 2009). Due to the complexity of school organizations, systems thinking may facilitate effective decision-making as a means for achieving the school’s expected results (Shaked and Schechter, 2016; Shapiro and Stefkovich, 2016). Further research may consider systems thinking as a new approach for the exploration of principals’ decision-making.…”