Grummell, Bernie and Devine, Dympna and Lynch, Kathleen (2009) Appointing Senior Managers in Education: homosociability, local logics and authenticity in the selection process. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 37 (3). pp. 329-349. ISSN 1741-1432

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Abstract

While there is extensive research on educational leadership and management, the selection of leaders has received comparatively little attention. This article examines how educational leadership is constructed through the selection process in the context of a qualitative study of Irish education. It highlights the tensions that can exist for selection board assessors as they try to balance increasing performativity and new managerialist demands with the traditional ethical and moral dimensions of educational leadership. Key concepts of `local logics' and `homosociability' frame the analysis as it is shown how assessors often select `safe' candidates according to familiar qualities. This normalization is problematic when educational leadership is faced with intense organizational and socio-cultural change. It is also problematic in gender terms, especially in higher education, where the prevailing leadership model is a masculine one. Differences between education sectors are evident, with the primary and second levels translating criteria to the local logics of the institution and emphasizing the personal qualities of candidates. The higher education sectors were more formalized in their application process, highlighting their own local logics of strategic and professional management criteria.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Gender; Homosociability; Leadership; Local logics; New managerialism; Selection process.
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Adult and Community Education Faculty of Social Sciences > Education
Item ID:	1480
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143209102783
Depositing User:	Dr. Bernie Grummell
Date Deposited:	28 Jul 2009 09:49
Journal or Publication Title:	Educational Management Administration & Leadership
Publisher:	Sage
Refereed:	Yes
Funders:	Department of Education and Science
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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