Leadership in uncertainty: Improvisation and positioning in municipal adult education

IF 1.1 Q3 EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
Fred Carlo Andersen, Gunn Vedøy, Erlend Dehlin
{"title":"Leadership in uncertainty: Improvisation and positioning in municipal adult education","authors":"Fred Carlo Andersen, Gunn Vedøy, Erlend Dehlin","doi":"10.1177/14779714241247006","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"This study examines how six principals in Norwegian adult education centres (AECs) navigate and make sense of and navigate the multifaceted and uncertain environment in which they act. Specifically, the study aims to explore the significance of improvisation and positioning in the principals’ day-to-day decision-making and leadership as they address the challenges posed by complex migration patterns, shifting policies, and diverse student populations. The principles were interviewed in spring 2018, and selected to represent the diversity of such centres. Through initial analyses, the study identified that the environment of AECs was characterised by complexity, unpredictability, and uncertainty. Moreover, results indicate that improvisation and planning interplay. In addition, improvisation is strengthened by a collective focus on improvement, unpredictability as a rule and diversity as a strategy. Regarding leadership understood as positioning, we see how the principals assert their roles through power dynamics, acting on potential for change, and collaboration. Recognising the unique challenges faced by AEC principals, there is a need for targeted support and professional development that addresses the importance and understanding of improvisation and positioning in AEC-leadership. Moving forward, our findings should have implications for research, policy, and practice in municipal adult education. Key words: Principals, adult education centres, unpredictability, positioning, improvisation.","PeriodicalId":53962,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Adult and Continuing Education","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Adult and Continuing Education","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/14779714241247006","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study examines how six principals in Norwegian adult education centres (AECs) navigate and make sense of and navigate the multifaceted and uncertain environment in which they act. Specifically, the study aims to explore the significance of improvisation and positioning in the principals’ day-to-day decision-making and leadership as they address the challenges posed by complex migration patterns, shifting policies, and diverse student populations. The principles were interviewed in spring 2018, and selected to represent the diversity of such centres. Through initial analyses, the study identified that the environment of AECs was characterised by complexity, unpredictability, and uncertainty. Moreover, results indicate that improvisation and planning interplay. In addition, improvisation is strengthened by a collective focus on improvement, unpredictability as a rule and diversity as a strategy. Regarding leadership understood as positioning, we see how the principals assert their roles through power dynamics, acting on potential for change, and collaboration. Recognising the unique challenges faced by AEC principals, there is a need for targeted support and professional development that addresses the importance and understanding of improvisation and positioning in AEC-leadership. Moving forward, our findings should have implications for research, policy, and practice in municipal adult education. Key words: Principals, adult education centres, unpredictability, positioning, improvisation.
不确定性中的领导力:市级成人教育中的随机应变和定位
本研究探讨了挪威成人教育中心(AECs)的六位校长如何驾驭和理解他们所处的多层面和不确定的环境。具体而言,本研究旨在探讨校长们在应对复杂的移民模式、不断变化的政策和多样化的学生群体所带来的挑战时,即兴发挥和定位在日常决策和领导力中的意义。这些原则于 2018 年春季进行了访谈,所选原则代表了此类中心的多样性。通过初步分析,研究发现澳大利亚教育中心的环境具有复杂性、不可预测性和不确定性的特点。此外,研究结果表明,即兴创作和规划是相互影响的。此外,集体对改进的关注、作为规则的不可预测性和作为战略的多样性也加强了即兴发挥。关于被理解为定位的领导力,我们看到校长们是如何通过权力动态、根据变革潜力采取行动以及合作来坚持自己的角色的。认识到澳大利亚工程学院校长所面临的独特挑战,有必要提供有针对性的支持和专业发展,以解决澳大利亚工程学院领导力中即兴和定位的重要性和理解问题。展望未来,我们的研究结果将对城市成人教育的研究、政策和实践产生影响。关键词校长、成人教育中心、不可预测性、定位、随机应变。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
求助全文
约1分钟内获得全文 求助全文
来源期刊
Journal of Adult and Continuing Education
Journal of Adult and Continuing Education EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH-
CiteScore
4.30
自引率
10.50%
发文量
26
期刊介绍: The journal is peer-reviewed and focuses on international and national issues and is aimed at researchers, professionals and practitioners in all sectors. It publishes both research articles and reflections on policy and practice, and offers opportunities for all concerned with post-compulsory education to make contributions to debate.
×
引用
GB/T 7714-2015
复制
MLA
复制
APA
复制
导出至
BibTeX EndNote RefMan NoteFirst NoteExpress
×
提示
您的信息不完整,为了账户安全,请先补充。
现在去补充
×
提示
您因"违规操作"
具体请查看互助需知
我知道了
×
提示
确定
请完成安全验证×
copy
已复制链接
快去分享给好友吧!
我知道了
右上角分享
点击右上角分享
0
联系我们:info@booksci.cn Book学术提供免费学术资源搜索服务,方便国内外学者检索中英文文献。致力于提供最便捷和优质的服务体验。 Copyright © 2023 布克学术 All rights reserved.
京ICP备2023020795号-1
ghs 京公网安备 11010802042870号
Book学术文献互助
Book学术文献互助群
群 号:481959085
Book学术官方微信