Case study of a senior executive group in a NSW state secondary school

Year: 2006

Author: Barnett, Kerry, McCormick, John

Type of paper: Abstract refereed

Abstract:
It is widely acknowledged that effectively leading a small group (fewer than twenty members) differs from leading many followers. Most views on small group leadership have emphasized the role of a leader in the development of group processes relevant to social interaction as well as those relevant to task interaction.

A case study of a Senior Executive group comprising the principal and two deputy principals was conducted in a NSW state secondary school which was going through a process of renewal. The purpose of the case study was to investigate the role of leadership within this small group. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. The results suggest leadership processes influenced cognitive, motivational, affective and, coordination aspects of group processes and the latter, in turn, influenced leadership processes in this Senior Executive group.

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