To read this content please select one of the options below:

Introduction: Organization theory, educational leadership and educational research

Bob L. Johnson Jr (Department of Educational Leadership and Policy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA)
Janice R. Fauske (Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of South Florida, Sarasota, Florida, USA)

Journal of Educational Administration

ISSN: 0957-8234

Article publication date: 1 February 2005

5278

Abstract

Purpose

This essay argues that it is time to revisit and reintegrate the contributions of organization theory to the understanding of educational organizations and leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

The arguments presented in this essay are predicated on the following assumptions: a collective recognition of the rich theoretical and conceptual contributions the field of organization has made to the understanding of educational organizations and leadership; a concern that the pragmatic press of the current reform movement – with its preoccupation with outcome measures – would discourage efforts to pursue a theoretical and conceptual understanding of educational organizations; and a recognized need to re‐articulate the utility of the frameworks and concepts provided by organizational theory literature to the larger research community.

Findings

As a defining venue for social interaction, the organization provides a context for understanding this interaction. Organizations exhibit tendencies that exist in various human groups and provide the context for a variety of basic social processes. The numerous activities witnessed in educational organizations – leading, teaching, learning, counseling, coaching, etc. – take place in an organizational context. One cannot discuss these activities without considering the context in which they occur.

Originality/value

The value of this essay lies in the message it seeks to convey: it is time to revisit and reconsider the important role and contributions of the organizational theory literature with regard to educational research and the larger educational enterprise.

Keywords

Citation

Johnson, B.L. and Fauske, J.R. (2005), "Introduction: Organization theory, educational leadership and educational research", Journal of Educational Administration, Vol. 43 No. 1, pp. 5-8. https://doi.org/10.1108/09578230510577254

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Related articles