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The Crucible of Middle-Management Leadership in Fast-Paced, High-Stakes, Large-Scale Organizational Change Environments

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Bibliographic Details
Title: The Crucible of Middle-Management Leadership in Fast-Paced, High-Stakes, Large-Scale Organizational Change Environments
Language: English
Authors: Mark Jeremy Colwell
Source: ProQuest LLC. 2024 (ptist).
Availability: ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 220
Publication Date: 2024
Document Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Descriptors: Middle Management, Organizational Change, Leadership, Virtual Schools, Principals, COVID-19, Pandemics, Program Implementation, Alignment (Education), Organizational Communication, Barriers
Geographic Terms: California
ISBN: 979-83-8219-381-6
Abstract: Middle-management leaders are in a crucible. In addition to managing their extensive regular duties and leading groups toward common goals, they must navigate conflicting expectations and competing demands from their superiors and subordinates. The challenges in middle-management leadership are exacerbated in fast-paced, high stakes, large-scale change environments. This multiple case study evaluated the experiences of California school principals tasked to create and lead virtual schools in 2021 as result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The principals were caught in the middle when tasked to lead and manage large-scale organizational change in high-stakes learning environments in a short window of time. Twenty-seven virtual school principals completed an open-ended survey on their experiences and 12 of the survey participants expanded on their challenges in different sets of interviews. Iterative data analysis revealed seven challenges associated with middle-management leadership: the timeline for implementation, misalignment between district and site goals, an unclear vision, lack of organizational knowledge, lack of systemic support, and poor communication. A metaphor for the crucible of middle-management leadership challenges emerged from three systemic conditions that inhibited their leadership. The conclusions provide guiding principles and recommendations to enhance middle-management leadership success in general and in fast-paced, high-stakes, large-scale organizational change environments. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2024
Access URL: https://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqm&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:31140281
Accession Number: ED651433
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Middle-management leaders are in a crucible. In addition to managing their extensive regular duties and leading groups toward common goals, they must navigate conflicting expectations and competing demands from their superiors and subordinates. The challenges in middle-management leadership are exacerbated in fast-paced, high stakes, large-scale change environments. This multiple case study evaluated the experiences of California school principals tasked to create and lead virtual schools in 2021 as result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The principals were caught in the middle when tasked to lead and manage large-scale organizational change in high-stakes learning environments in a short window of time. Twenty-seven virtual school principals completed an open-ended survey on their experiences and 12 of the survey participants expanded on their challenges in different sets of interviews. Iterative data analysis revealed seven challenges associated with middle-management leadership: the timeline for implementation, misalignment between district and site goals, an unclear vision, lack of organizational knowledge, lack of systemic support, and poor communication. A metaphor for the crucible of middle-management leadership challenges emerged from three systemic conditions that inhibited their leadership. The conclusions provide guiding principles and recommendations to enhance middle-management leadership success in general and in fast-paced, high-stakes, large-scale organizational change environments. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ISBN:979-83-8219-381-6