The major purposes of this study are twofold. The first purpose
is to describe the setting and the context for the program and the
methods by which a Government initiated change, a Participation and Equity Program,was introduced into a particular school. The second
purpose is to consider the change process which occurred and to
analyse the factors involved in the change and the procedures by which
the change was managed.
The study outlines ways in which change can become an issue on
the political agenda and hence become a Government priority which is
eventually handed down as policy to be followed by schools.
Introduction of change in this manner is regarded as a top-down,
or authoritarian, model of change. Such a model of change has the
advantage of ensuring same change occurs within a specified time but
at the same time there are disadvantages relating to a lack of skill,
or expertise, amongst school staff and a possible lack of commitment
to change.
The study draws attention to problems encountered in the
introductory procedures of the program which caused a sense of
frustration amongst those attempting to manage the change at the
school level. It is shown how the system failed to provide effective
support at this level. It is suggested that there is a bureaucratic
lack of understanding of the problems of implementing change in a
school which is itself considered to be a loosely coupled organization
with problems peculiar to itself.
In summary the study suggests that progress was made, in this
particular example, chiefly through efforts at the school level but
the results could have been improved with effective system support.
While there has been some success the change has not yet been
institutionalized within the school.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219192 |
| Date | January 1986 |
| Creators | McDonnell, T., n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright T. McDonnell |
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