Murphy, M. and Curtis, W. (2013) The micro-politics of micro-management: exploring the role of programme leader in English universities. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 35(1), pp. 34-44. (doi: 10.1080/1360080X.2012.727707)
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Abstract
This study is based on interviews with 25 programme leaders at two universities in England. Programme leadership is ubiquitous and essential to effective university operations, yet there is surprisingly little research on the role. It is an ambiguous and complex form of leadership, existing as it does in the space between standard academic and manager profiles. Existing literature on other leadership roles highlights such ambiguity as a major source of stress and cause of inefficiency. Drawing from the perspectives of current programme leaders, four main areas of difficulty are identified: role confusion, the management of others, the status and demands of leadership, and bureaucratic burdens. The paper suggests that the role of programme leader should be taken more seriously at both a research and institutional level, and that sufficient support should be implemented in relation to the four challenges mentioned above. Any real engagement with leadership at programme level, however, should also take into account the micro-politics of institutional management, a politics that combines issues of values, status and identity with more prosaic concerns over role definition, workload and student support.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Murphy, Dr Mark |
Authors: | Murphy, M., and Curtis, W. |
College/School: | College of Social Sciences > School of Education College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Educational Leadership & Policy |
Journal Name: | Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
ISSN: | 1360-080X |
ISSN (Online): | 1469-9508 |
Published Online: | 11 January 2013 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2013 Association for Tertiary Education Management |
First Published: | First published in Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management 35(1):34-44 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher |
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