Focusing the kaleidoscope: exploring distributed leadership in an English university

Floyd, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2008-7831 and Fung, D. (2015) Focusing the kaleidoscope: exploring distributed leadership in an English university. Studies in Higher Education, 2015. ISSN 0307-5079 doi: 10.1080/03075079.2015.1110692

Abstract/Summary

In the UK and elsewhere, the idea of ‘distributing leadership’ in universities is becoming more popular. Yet, there is surprisingly little research on this topic. This paper reports on a funded study which explored how one institution had implemented a newly conceived ‘distributed’ leadership model, specifically to investigate the impact of the model on the academics who had taken on the new leadership positions within the university. The study adopted an exploratory, sequential mixed methods design with in-depth interviews (n=30) being undertaken first, followed by an online survey (n=177). The findings suggest that the challenge of ‘distributed leadership’ in universities is complex on a number of levels: the plurality of the institutional mission; the diversity of possible leadership/management roles; the challenge of effective communication; and the effects of traditional academic values and identities, which may support but may also be antithetical to the strategic direction of the institution.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/69430
Identification Number/DOI	10.1080/03075079.2015.1110692
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Arts, Humanities and Social Science > Institute of Education > Improving Equity and Inclusion through Education
Publisher	Taylor & Francis
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