This study focuses on the diverse leadership issues a Swedish primary school faces when responsibilities are not clearly defined between the management/operative organisation and the development organisation. To illustrate this, research results are analysed using Liljenberg’s model ‘Tensions in relation to the development aspects of school organisation’. The five aspects of the model are; Organisational Structure, Goals, Vision and Values, Responsibility and Decision-making, Reflection and Evaluation and Attitudes. They are used to identify to which extent the management team’s focus is operationally or developmentally oriented and how decisions are made. The information is derived from observations, document analysis and semi-structured interviews. The survey shows that the management team deals mostly with operational issues though what issues belong to the running of a school as compared to pedagogical development becomes difficult to distinguish as they can overlap. When it comes to which direction or solutions the school takes, other groups are influential without regard to the designated development group. This division shows that the school has a distributed leadership. The results indicated that without clearly defined division of labour, area of responsibility and leadership, the different groups within a school are less effective and would benefit from an overhaul. / Den här undersökningen fokuserar på en låg- och mellanstadieskolas ledningsgrupps frågor, för att se på fördelningen mellan driftsorganisationens och utvecklingsorganisationens frågor. För att belysa detta har undersökningens resultat analyserats utifrån en modell av Liljenberg över spänningsfälten mellan drifts- och utvecklingsorganisationen. Modellens fem aspekter är; organisationsstruktur, mål, vision och värden, ansvarstagande och beslutsfattande, reflektion och utvärdering samt attityder. Dessa har använts för att identifiera i vilken utsträckning ledningsgruppens fokus är drifts- eller utvecklingsorienterat. Ledningsgruppens arbete har undersökts i en fallstudie bestående av observation, dokumentanalys och semistrukturerade intervjuer. Undersökningen visar att den undersökta ledningsgruppen mest hanterar driftsfrågor, trots att det är svårt att utskilja vilka frågor som handlar om att driva skolan eller att utveckla den. När det handlar om utvecklingsfrågor visar det sig att det också finns andra grupperingar än ledningsgruppen där dessa frågor diskuteras. Det kan handla om förstelärarnas uppdrag eller vad resursteamet planerar i utbildningsväg. Denna uppdelning visar på att skolan har ett distribuerat ledarskap. Den här undersökningen visar att utan en tydlig fördelning av arbetsuppgifter, ansvarsområden och ledarskap blir skolan inte så effektiv som den skulle kunna vara, och att strukturen skulle gynnas av en översyn.

Lärande gemenskaper i en organisation kan bidra till utveckling. Specialpedagogens uppdrag inom skolutveckling med fokus på lärande gemenskaper har identifierats som ett outforskat område nationellt. Studiens syfte är därför att bidra med kunskap om specialpedagogens roll i arbetet med lärande gemenskaper i en lärande organisation. Studiens metod är kvalitativ och undersöker specialpedagogens arbete med lärande gemenskaper på tre grundskolor genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Respondenterna i studien är fyra specialpedagoger och tre rektorer. Utifrån Ahrenfelts tolkning av systemteorin med begrepp som helhet, gränsyta och informativitet tolkas och analyseras empirin. Resultatet visar att specialpedagogen verkar genom att skapa relationer och möjliggöra samarbete i organisationen, och använder sin kunskap och förmåga inom pedagogisk handledning som ett verktyg för att främja lärande gemenskaper. Vidare visar resultatet att specialpedagogen kan vara den som identifierar nästa steg i utvecklingsarbetet genom sitt arbete såväl inom systemet som omvärlden. Hen använder även sin förmåga till analys i sovrandet av information. För att specialpedagogen ska kunna använda sin färdighet och förmåga erhållen via universitetsexamen på avancerad nivå, behöver rektorn vara den som sätter ramar och beslutar om prioritet. Rektors roll är även att hålla utvecklingsarbetets mål levande för medarbetare via exempelvis medarbetarsamtal, vilket i sin tur faciliterar specialpedagogens arbete vilken ofta är den som håller i olika fortbildnings- och utbildningsinsatser. Rektorerna i studien framhäver vikten av att ha specialpedagogen med i till exempel utvecklingsgrupper så att hen sedan kan verka på de olika nivåerna utifrån prioriterade mål. Sammantaget visar vårt resultat att om samarbetet och ramarna sätts av rektor kan specialpedagogen bidra med sin kompetens för att möjliggöra lärande gemenskaper. / Learning communities within an organization can contribute to development and growth. The role of the special educational needs coordinator (SENCO), a contributor to school development through the establishment of learning communities, was identified as an area on which little research has been done nationally. Therefore, the aim of this study is to contribute further knowledge about the role of SENCOs in the development of learning communities in educational organizations. The method used is qualitative and investigates the work of SENCO and principals in three elementary schools through semi-structured interviews. The interviewees are four SENCOs and three principals. The empirical data is analyzed using Ahrenfelt’s interpretation of systems theory and terms such as the whole, interface, and informativeness. The conclusions drawn are that SENCOs operate by promoting relations and enabling cooperation within the organization, as well as by using their knowledge and competency in pedagogical guidance as a tool for establishing learning communities. Furthermore, the results show that SENCOs are capable of identifying the next step in the process of development through their work both within the system as well as the surrounding environment. SENCOs also use their analytical skills when sifting through information. For SENCOs to be able to fully utilize the skill set received through advanced university study, the conclusion is that it is the principal who is required to prioritize and establish the framework for the creation of a learning organization. The principal needs to remind the staff of the developmental process, for example through yearly staff interviews. This in turn facilitates the work of the SENCO, who is often the one responsible for administering various forms of vocational training. The principals view the participation of SENCOs in the school’s development groups as important. This enables SENCOs to act on the goals prioritized within the organization. Overall, the conclusion is that provided that principals establish the framework, SENCOs are capable of contributing with their area of competency in the development of learning communities.

The principal is the person who is responsible for the education provided in Swedish preschools (SOU 2015: 22). She or he is responsible but doesn’t necessarily have to pursue all the work herself/himself. The principal can delegate, share, or distribute parts of the leadership to teachers working at the preschool (Skolverket, 2012b). Research shows that distributed leadership and various forms of teacher’s leaders are becoming more common in schools (Forssten Seiser, 2017; Liljenberg, 2015). What seems to vary is how the principal chooses to structure the teacher’s leader (Wenner & Campbell, 2017). The key issue of this study is to contribute with knowledge about the middle teachers, from the principal perspectives, in preschool. The focus lays on clarifying the teacher’s leader complex role. Based on a semi-structured interview guide, nine principals working in different preschools was able to share how they organize the work of a teacher’s leaders at their preschool. Collected data has been transcribed and by using a content analysis the result has been brought forward. From a social constructivist point of view and with theorizing of the distributive leadership and collaboration the result presents the principals views. The result of the study shows the principals different perceptions on the teacher’s leaders, its role and how it can be organized. Such as what possibilities there are to be able to take on a teacher’s leader. Similarities appear mainly focusing on how helpful this profession is, that work in favor both for the principals and for the preschool in general. / I förskolan är rektor ytterst ansvarig för verksamheten (SOU 2015:22). Rektor ses som ansvarig men behöver nödvändigtvis inte leda arbetet själv, utan kan distribuera delar av sitt ledarskaptill andra (Skolverket, 2012b). Det distribuerade ledarskapets framväxt i skolväsendet uppmärksammas i forskning och det framkommer att olika former av mellanledare blir allt vanligare(Forssten Seiser, 2017; Liljenberg, 2015). Det som tycks variera är hur rektorerna väljer att strukturera mellanledarskapet (Wenner & Campbell, 2017).Syftet med denna studie är att bidra med kunskap om mellanledaren i förskolan, utifrån rektors perspektiv. Fokus ligger på att klargöra mellanledarens komplexa roll. Med hjälp av en halvstrukturerad intervjuguide har nio verksamma rektorer i förskolan delat med sig av hur de organiserar för ett mellanledarskap på sin enhet. Intervjusamtalen har transkriberats och med hjälp av innehållsanalys redogörs det kvalitativa resultatet.Utifrån en socialkonstruktivistisk syn och med hjälp av det distribuerade ledarskapet och samverkansteorin analyseras rektorernas uppfattningar. Det framkommer både skillnader och likheter i rektorernas uppfattningar om organiserandet och strukturer av ett mellanledarskap. Studien synliggör bland annat variationer i hur och varför rektorer väljer att strukturera upp mellanledarskapet så som de gör. Det framkommer också likheter i bland annat hur rektorerna uttrycker att mellanledarfunktionen är gynnsam för både rektor och för den pedagogiska verksamheten.

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本研究指在探討校長分布式領導、教師知覺組織支持與教師組織公民行為的關係。研究方法採問卷調查法，以越南胡志明市公立高級中學教師為研究對象。在預試階段，寄發300份問卷，回收有效問卷共有275份，據以檢視研究工具之信效度。在正式調查階段，寄發960份問卷，回收有效問卷共908份。在資料處理方面，本研究分別以描述性統計、獨立樣本t檢定、單因子變異數分析、積差相關分析及結構方程模式取向之路徑分析等統計方法進行分析。本研究獲得以下結論： 一、越南胡志明市公立高級中學校長分布式領導、教師知覺組織支持與教師組織公民行為的現況大致良好。 二、教師對校長分布式領導的知覺，會因教師之年齡、服務年資、學歷、學校所在地、學校規模與校長於本校服務年資之不同而有顯著差異。 三、教師對組織支持的知覺，會因教師之年齡、學校所在地與學校規模之不同而有顯著差異。 四、教師對教師組織公民行為的知覺，會因學校所在地、學校規模與校長於本校服務年資之不同而有顯著差異。 五、校長分布式領導、教師知覺組織支持與教師組織公民行為之間兩兩具有正向相關。 六、校長分布式領導、教師知覺組織支持與教師組織公民行為三者之間具有顯著影響關係。 七、校長分布式領導可透過教師知覺組織支持的部分中介效果，間接影響教師組織公民行為。 八、校長分布式領導、教師知覺組織支持與教師組織公民行為的結構方程模式適配度良好。 基於上述之研究結果，本研究提出一些建議，作為主管教育行政機關、學校校長、教師及未來研究之參考。 / The study aims to investigate the relationships among distributed leadership, perceived organizational support, and organizational citizenship behavior. The study population is all in-service teachers at public high schools in Ho Chi Minh city. The questionnaires are used to collect data. In the pretest stage, data collected from a sample of 275 teachers at 20 public high schools, and was used to test the validity and reliability of the research instruments by using the exploratory factor analysis. In the formal survey, data collected from a sample of 908 teachers at 64 public high schools. Then the descriptive analysis, t-test and one-way ANOVA, correlation analysis and SEM approach’s path analysis were used to analyze the data. The findings indicated that: 1. The teachers’ perception of distributed leadership, perceived organizational support, and organizational citizenship behavior is good. 2. Six demographic variables, including teachers’ age, year of experience, level of education, school location, school size, and years as principal at current school, showed significant differences in distributed leadership. 3. Three demographic variables, including teachers’ age, school location, school size, showed significant differences in perceived organizational support. 4. Three demographic variables, including school location, school size, and years as principal at current school, showed significant differences in organizational citizenship behavior. 5. There is a significant positive correlation between the variables of distributed leadership, perceived organizational support, and organizational citizenship behavior. 6. Both distributed leadership and perceived organizational support showed a positive direct effect on organizational citizenship behavior. 7. Perceived organizational support partially mediated the effect of distributed leadership on organizational citizenship behavior. 8. The SEM constructed for the distributed leadership, perceived organizational support, and organizational citizenship behavior showed a goodness of fit. Based on these results, there are many applications proposed to education authority, school principals, and teachers and some recommendations provided for further research.

This study concerns school reform in Malta. Under the policy framework ‘For All Children to Succeed’ (Ministry of Education, Youth & Employment, 2005) [henceforth referred to as FACT], Maltese state schools embarked on the process of being organized into networks called ‘colleges’. These consisted of primary and secondary schools according to geographical location, under the leadership of the Principal – a newly-designated role hierarchically above that of the individual Heads of School. The purpose of my research is to explore relations of power in a Maltese college. My study gives prominence to both theory and methodology. The theoretical research question investigates how networking unfolds among the various leadership hierarchies in school governance in a Maltese college. This is explored through the performance of policy-mandated collegiality; the circulating relations of power; and leadership distribution. My study is framed within a postmodern paradigm and adopts a Foucauldian theoretical framework, more specifically his concepts of power, discipline, governmentality, discourse, and subjectification. Data for my case study are collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews; observation of a Council of Heads meeting; and a documentary analysis of FACT. Narrative is not only the phenomenon under exploration, but also the method of analysis, and mode of representation. Thus, I attempt to answer my methodological research question that investigates the ways a researcher negotiates the methodological tensions and contradictions in the conduct of qualitative inquiry in order to construct knowledge differently. The Maltese college is viewed as a surveillance mechanism by both the Principal and the Heads, with collegiality being regarded as a straitjacket imposed by the State through a policy mandate. However, there is unanimous agreement on conscription being the only way forward for Maltese state schools. Different degrees of ‘support’ and empowerment exist, according to the directives of the Principal and the State. College setup is problematized on geographical clustering and college streaming, due to which it may end up defying the primary aim of networking by clustering students from particular areas in isolation, resulting in social injustice and educational inequality. This study exposes a strong sense of sectoral isolation among the Heads – a situation being mirrored at macro-level with very few opportunities for inter-networking among colleges. There is an asymmetrical power flow among the college schools, both within the same level and across different levels. Despite the policy FACT mandating distributed leadership, hierarchical forms of accountability are still inherent within the system, bringing out a tension between autonomy and centralization.

本研究旨在瞭解苗栗縣國民小學校長分布式領導、教師組織公民行為與教師工作滿意度之現況，並分析不同背景變項之教師在知覺校長分布式領導、教師組織公民行為與教師工作滿意度之差異情形，且探討三者之間的關係，最後藉由校長分布式領導與教師組織公民行為對教師工作滿意度進行預測。 本研究採調查研究法，共計抽樣61所學校，發出708份問卷，回收569份有效問卷，問卷有效率達80.37%。資料處理分別以描述性統計、獨立樣本t檢定、單因子變異數分析、皮爾遜積差相關及多元逐步迴歸分析等統計方式進行統計分析。 本研究獲致以下之結論： 一、苗栗縣國民小學教師知覺校長分布式領導為中高程度，以「建構清楚的願景與目的」之知覺程度為最高，「營造信任的學校文化」之知覺程度最低。 二、苗栗縣國民小學教師有高程度之組織公民行為表現，以「主動助人」之表現為最高，「自我要求」表現為最低。 三、苗栗縣國民小學教師在教師工作滿意的知覺為中高程度，以「工作本身」的知覺為最高，「行政管理」之知覺為最低。 四、苗栗縣國民小學教師，因其性別、職務及學校規模之不同，而有不同的校長分布式領導知覺感受，以男性、擔任主任或組長職務、與學校規模在12班（含）以下之教師知覺程度較高。 五、苗栗縣國民小學教師，因其年齡及擔任職務之不同，而表現出不同程度的教師組織公民行為，以51歲（含）以上及擔任主任職務之教師表現程度較高。 六、苗栗縣國民小學教師，因其性別及職務之不同，而有不同的教師滿意度知覺感受，以男性及擔任主任之教師知覺程度較高。 七、苗栗縣國民小學校長分布式領導、教師組織公民行為與教師工作滿意度的知覺及各分層面，彼此之間具有正相關的關係。 八、苗栗縣國民小學校長分布式領導、教師組織公民行為對教師工作滿意度具有預測作用，以「校長分布式領導」的預測力最佳。 最後依據研究結果與結論，提出具體建議，以供教育行政機關、學校校長與教師以及未來研究的參考。 / This study aims to investigate the current development of the elementary school principal’s distributed leadership, teachers’ organization citizenship behavior and the teachers’ job satisfaction in Maioli County, and to analyze the differences in teachers of different background variables are conscious of the principal’s distributed leadership, teachers’ organization citizenship behavior and the teachers’ job satisfaction, and to explore the relationship among the three variables. Finally, through principal’s distributed leadership and teachers’ organization citizenship behavior forecast the teachers’ job satisfaction. Questionnaire survey method is adopted. The samples include 61 schools and 708 questionnaires were distributed. There were 569 valid questionnaires used finally in the statistic analysis and the usable rate is 80.37%. All data collected were analyzed by the methods of descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, Multiple regression etc. The conclusions are as follows: 1.Elementary school teachers’ perception of principal’s distributed leadership is above average while “construct clear vision and purposes” was the highest, and “shared responsibility” was the lowest. 2.Elementary school teachers’ perception of teachers’ organization citizenship behavior is above average while “helping others voluntarily” was the highest, and “self-disciplined” was the lowest. 3.Elementary school teachers’ perception of teachers’ job satisfaction is above average while “work” was the highest, and “administrative management” was the lowest. 4.There are significant differences in the elementary school teachers’ perception of principal’s distributed leadership in terms of sex, duty, and the scale of school. 5.There are significant differences in the elementary school teachers’ perception of teachers’ organization citizenship behavior in terms of age and duty. 6.There are significant differences in the elementary school teachers’ perception of teachers’ job satisfaction in terms of sex and duty. 7.There is a positive correlation among the principal’s distributed leadership, teachers’ organization citizenship behavior and the teachers’ job satisfaction. 8.Both of the principal’s distributed leadership and teachers’ organization citizenship behavior in Maioli County have a predictive effect on teachers’ job satisfaction.

Online creative collaboration is challenging our basic assumptions about how people can create together. Volunteers from around the world who meet and communicate over the Internet have written the world's largest encyclopedia, developed market-leading software products, solved important open problems in mathematics, and produced award-winning films, among many examples. A growing body of research refutes the popular myth that these projects succeed through "self-organization" and instead points to the critical importance of effective leadership. Yet, we know little about what these leaders actually do, the challenges they must manage, and how technology supports or hinders their efforts. In this dissertation, I investigated the role of leadership in online creative collaboration. I first conducted two empirical studies of existing leadership practices, focusing on the domain of online, collaborative animation projects called "collabs." In the first study, I identified the major challenges faced by collab leaders. In the second study, I identified leader traits and behaviors correlated with success. These initial findings suggested that many collab leaders, overburdened and lacking adequate technological support, respond by attempting less ambitious projects and adopting centralized leadership styles. Despite these efforts, leaders frequently become overburdened, and more than 80% of collabs fail. To ease the burden on leaders and encourage more complex, successful projects, I led the development of a web-based, open-source software tool called Pipeline. Pipeline can support leadership by reinforcing a traditional, top-down approach, or transform leadership by redistributing it across many members of a group. This latter approach relies on social processes, rather than technical constraints, to guide behavior. I evaluated Pipeline's ability to effectively support and transform leadership through a detailed case study of Holiday Flood, a six-week collaboration involving nearly 30 artists from around the world. The case study showed that formal leaders remained influential and Pipeline supported their traditional, centralized approach. However, there was also evidence that Pipeline transformed some leadership behaviors, such as clarifying, informing, and monitoring, by redistributing them beyond the project's formal leaders. The result was a significantly more ambitious project which attained its goals and earned high praise from the community. The main contributions of this dissertation include: (1) a rich description of existing leadership practices in online creative collaboration; (2) the development of redistributed leadership as a theoretical framework for analyzing the relationship between leadership and technological support; (3) design implications for supporting and transform leadership; (4) a case study illustrating how technology can support and transform leadership in the real world; and (5) the Pipeline collaboration tool itself, released as open-source software.