Working as early childhood centre directors and deputies – perspectives from Australia, Finland and Norway

Leena Halttunen, Margaret Sims, Manjula Waniganayake, Fay Hadley, Karin Hognestad, Johanna Elmiina Heikka

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    47 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    This research is based in early childhood centres in Australia, Finland and Norway, considered the leadership work of centre Directors and Deputy Directors. Theoretically, this study is situated within the global landscape of neoliberalism that Sims (2017) describes as forcing the reshaping of early childhood policy in numerous OECD countries. Essentially qualitative in design, this exploratory study uses data gathered via a short background survey questionnaire, content analysis of job description statements, and a follow up interview with each participant. Findings indicate that there are differences within and across the three countries in the way these jobs are structured. It appears that the expectations of each role and how participants engage in leadership are framed by their centre contexts. In Australia, leaders of centres achieving an excellent quality rating tend to focus on relationship work when making leadership decisions. In Finland, Directors and Deputy Directors are expected to collaborate as partners when overseeing the work of 2-3 centres and other services. In Norway, there has been a redistribution of work where Deputy Directors have a co-responsibility in leadership enactment. When taken together, these findings illuminate new insights on how Directors experience leadership when Deputies are part of the leadership team in early childhood settings.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationLeadership in early education in times of change
    Subtitle of host publicationResearch from five continents
    EditorsPetra Strehmel, Johanna Heikka, Eeva Hujala, Jillian Rodd, Manjula Waniganayake
    Place of PublicationOpladen
    PublisherVerlag Barbara Budrich
    Chapter18
    Pages231-252
    Number of pages22
    ISBN (Electronic)9783847412243
    ISBN (Print)9783847421993
    Publication statusPublished - 2019

    Publication series

    NameResearch monograph (International Leadership Research Forum Early Education)
    Number3

    Bibliographical note

    Copyright the Author(s) 2019. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Working as early childhood centre directors and deputies – perspectives from Australia, Finland and Norway'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this