M.Ed. (Educational Management) / Women and authority therefore form the central theme of this research. The problematic nature of authority as experienced by female principals has led to the researcher addressing this issue and thereby establish guidelines to improve this problem. The value and uniqueness of this study lies in the empirical investigation which will use focus group interviews to identify the essential characteristics of the female principal's authority as experienced by her colleagues. 2 In the ensuing paragraphs, a concise statement of the research problem is given, facilitating the formulation of two queries, which in turn, underscore the specification of the central and specific aims of this research. Further explication of the research design follows, with reference to the nature of the literature and empirical studies conducted and finally to the sequence of this project.