Leadership In Education: Organizational Theory For The Practitioner

by Russ Marion

Marion writes in the preface, "Theories are little more than ivory tower artifacts if they cannot be translated into guides for actual leadership behavior." This idea permeates throughout Leadership in Education. Bridging the gap between the theoretical and the practical, Marion places organizational theory in broad historical and philosophical contexts to help readers see patterns in the material. Each major paradigm shift the field has undergone is examined in detail, along with the background shifts that accompanied them. All major organizational theories are machine theory, human relations, structuralism, open systems, and finally anti-positivist theories. Each chapter opens with a list of objectives reflecting expected reader outcomes, as opposed to chapter intent. The objectives are implemented through discussion questions, suggested research topics, activities, and case studies. These items are embedded within each chapter rather than placed at the end, further facilitating a shift between the academic and the practical even within the book itself.

371 pages, Paperback

First published August 20, 2001

Reviews

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives a great overview of the major theories of educational leadership. The authors have a quirky style that grew on me throughout the text (they like to make jokes in parenthesis).