This examination of the concept of leadership in the context of a large science-engineering library focuses on the importance of communication as it explores relevant social and political factors from an administrative perspective. The paper begins with an overview of the services and collections of the science-engineering library. The nature of…

Asserting that little is known about women's leadership development and style, this paper suggests reasons for this lack of knowledge and presents a literature search on the topic of women and leadership. When Vermont elected a woman as governor (Kunin, 1984), she appointed a large number of women to positions of power and influence within the…

Although stress related to work has received increased attention in recent years, the role of personality characteristics in mediating job stress has not been systematically investigated. Nonetheless, the perception of work stress and the significance of various sources of support may vary considerably based on individual characteristics.…

This report is comprised of brief summaries of various research-based and theoretical concepts and techniques--taken mostly from business management--that might improve educational administration. The topics discussed include (1) a list of successful business practices identified by the book, "In Search of Excellence"; (2) Theories X, Y,…

Under the superintendent's guidance, the Riverside (California) Unified School District underwent decentralization between 1960 and 1978. The process involved seven stages: (1) conceptualizing and actualizing a "cooperative community" committed to educating every child, (2) communicating these concepts to key individuals, (3)…

Findings from a study of 27 superintendents, 39 principals, and 37 supervisors recognized as effective leaders in Tennessee schools suggest that the highest level of educational leadership is dominated by individuals whose cognitive style is ineffective for conceptualizing the future. Analysis of the subjects' brain dominance patterns using the…

Public school superintendents consider situational and organizational variables when determining whether to involve others in decision-making processes. A sample of 240 superintendents from Washington, Oregon, and Idaho were sent the Situational Administrative Decision-Making Inventory. The sample was evenly divided geographically and by district…

This paper describes principals' behavior as they facilitate the implementation of an innovation in their schools. The paper uses data from research conducted by the Concerns-Based Adoption Model Project at the Austin campus of the University of Texas. The behaviors of nine principals are associated with three "change facilitator styles"…

A study of the conflict management behavior of 103 school superintendents and city managers in two major metropolitan areas revealed that the superintendents were more professionalized than the city managers but, when dealing with the public, were less likely to use the analytic-technocratic conflict management methods typically associated with…

The objective of this study was to test several hypotheses concerning the relationship of principal-teacher value congruence to group satisfaction in elementary schools. Teachers and principals from rural and small-town public elementary schools in Illinois and Indiana were asked to respond to the VAL-ED instrument and one Heslin Group…

A relatively new personality test entitled the FIRO-B was administered to 57 full-time Counseling Majors in an effort to determine whether these persons could be characterized in terms of affection and leadership variables. Results showed that these persons were characteristically high in their need and expression of affection and that they were…

Offers guidelines for planning and conducting efficient and productive school board meetings. (JG)

Outlines three possible forms, based on historical patterns, the college presidency could take depending on how presidents respond to four major conditions: the conditioning of education by economics and status, the high degree of bureaucratic structuring of collegiate institutions, the multicampus-statewide system patterns, and the new kinds of…

One of the tasks of school principals in some districts is to provide for an appropriate staff development program. From his own experiences the author argues that adopting commercial marketing techniques is not necessary when convincing the staff of the need for staff development. Instead, making the identification of staff needs and the…

This literature review examines Kurt Lewin's influence in leadership psychology. Characteristics of field theory are described in detail and utilized in analyzing leadership research, including the trait approach, leader behavior studies, contingency theory, path-goal theory, and leader decision theory. Important trends in leadership research are…