One critical factor in policy implementation is how teachers interpret policy. Previous research largely overlooks how the broader culture shapes teachers' interpretations. In the current research, we explore how teachers' interpretations of instructional reforms are associated with the logics of broad societal institutions. Our longitudinal…

This article adopts a non-rational, existential, subjective approach to school leadership, on the assumption that rational models provide useful pointers on mechanics such as time management, coaching and staff evaluation, but are less appropriate for grasping the essence of leadership which resides in managing interpersonal relationships and the…

Research associations tend to be voluntary by nature and therefore unstable in character, and thus are subject to threat for their continuity. History has shown that the European Educational Research Association (EERA) is not an exception to this rule. Because EERA Council and the board members are volunteers with limited time, experience and…

The purpose of this article is to describe the interconnectedness of three professional development associations, the impact of various factors on collaboration and fragmentation, and suggestions for future directions. The three adult education professional associations being discussed in this article are the American Association of Adult and…

The aim of this article is to contribute to the scholarly debate on differentiation processes in higher education, particularly in binary systems. The article builds on recent developments in institutional theory and organizational ecology regarding the nature of "organizational forms," as well as on the mechanisms through which these…

High education expectations--and the tools to ensure that they are being met--empower educators, students, parents, and policymakers to support student learning and make the best decisions to improve education. Most states have voluntarily adopted the Common Core State Standards to serve as their education expectations. To consistently and…

For agricultural and rural development in Europe, multifunctionality is a leading concept that raises many questions. Care farming is a promising example of multifunctional agriculture that has so far received little attention. An issue that has not been examined thoroughly is the strategic mapping of different care farm organizations in this…

As the definition of organization has evolved, so have the approaches used to evaluate organizational performance. During the past 60 years, organizational theorists and management scholars have developed a comprehensive line of thinking with respect to organizational assessment that serves to inform and be informed by the evaluation discipline.…

This article focuses on the construction of organizational identity and the strategic change in an educational organization. The aim of this empirical study is to examine how the members of an educational organization construct the meaning of "who we are" during an ongoing change. In addition, we examine whether it is reasonable to…

This paper considers how far Anglo Saxon conceptions of vocational education and training have influenced European Union vocational education and training policy, especially given the disparate approaches to vocational education and training across Europe. Two dominant approaches can be identified: the dual system (exemplified by Germany); and…

This paper investigates group/team development in computer engineering courses at a University in the Central USA from the perspective of organization behavior theory, specifically Tuckman's model of the stages of group development. The investigation, conducted through linguistic analysis of student reflection essays, and through focus group…

Communities of practice is a term that has begun gaining grounds in various settings especially in business and recently in education (Argyris, 2008; Göhlich, 2016; Lave & Wegner, 1991). The purpose of this case study is to look into how students measure their personal perceptions of their educational community; how they rate their educator…

This paper frames the problem underlying the cross-cultural Organizing Curriculum Change (OCC) study of state-based curriculum-making. The paper discusses the increased use by states over the past two decades of the century-old instrument of the state-based curriculum and the tool of the curriculum commission. The paper contrasts the slender…

A new organization often encounters the liability of newness that increases its chance of failing as a startup enterprise (Freeman, Carroll, and Hannan 1983). New organizations located in a foreign country also face the liability of foreignness (Zaheer and Mosakowski 1997), as cultural differences make new foreign ventures especially risky.…

This book is intended for students, leaders and managers who wish to explore the personal relevance and conceptual bases of educational leadership and organizational management and to develop their expertise in this field. It is a book written for both scholars and practitioners. The general public will also appreciate the accessible language in…