Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

6-1983

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Major

Curriculum and Instruction

Major Professor

Jerry J. Bellom

Committee Members

John R. Ray, Janet R. Handler, Francis M. Trusty

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine those factors which influence the change process in a system wide change effort. The study was concerned with identifying the obstacles affecting system wide change and the leadership behaviors used to deal with them. A product of the study was a set of guidelines for implementing system wide planned change in school districts.

Five school districts across eastern United States served as the source of data for the study. The sample group had 297 participants, 250 surveyed by questionnaire and 47 by interview. The data were studied using content analysis procedures.

Eleven obstacles were identified as affecting the implementation of district wide change. These ranged from excessive work loads and/or pressures to organizational restructuring of the school system. The identified leadership behaviors used to deal with the obstacles included: communication, clarifying responsibilities and roles, training/staff development, obstacle ignored, and time management strategies.

The findings of the study were used in the development of specific guidelines for school district change. It is recommended that the change should solve a problem, be planned, goal oriented and systematic. The change effort will be enhanced by an outside consultant who has credibility and well formulated plans. Effective change strategies include a monitoring/feedback mechanism and a designated system wide coordinator. They also address the obstacles that originate from all phases of the organization and the timing and pacing needs of the members.

Effective leadership behaviors address the nature of the obstacles and motivate organizational members. The leader should provide training/staff development activities, obtain top management support, and model the desired expectations. Effective delegation and involving members of the organization are leadership behaviors that enhance the effort.

It was concluded from this study that obstacles affecting the implementation of change will develop from any phase of the organization at any time. The level of trust between the managers and organizational members should be assessed in order to determine the amount of involvement needed by the organizational members. The organization should be restructured in order to support the change.

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