Examines the work of Chief Education Officers, what they do, why they do it and some of the consequences of their work. The research is based on Canadian schools but it is hoped that some of the material may be extrapolated and applied to schools in other countries.

Examines the work of Chief Education Officers, what they do, why they do it and some of the consequences of their work. The research is based on Canadian schools but it is hoped that some of the material may be extrapolated and applied to schools in other countries.

This work looks at managing school system change. It covers such topics as: challenges to leading and managing school and school system change; key roles and competencies for administrators; stakeholder theory analysis; understanding school culture change; and more.

Although there are many textbooks in the field of educational administration describing various organizational theories, this text is unique in tying organizational theory explicitly and systematically to a well-formulated problem- analysis methodology. It provides particular examples of bureaucratic, political, and leadership theories as well as descriptions of two broader theoretical frameworks: Burrell and Morgan's conceptual matrix and systems thinking. Special features include: * a fully developed methodology for describing and documenting problems in schools; * a systematic method for using different theoretical perspectives to analyze the causes of problems in schools; * carefully formulated questions illustrating how different theoretical frameworks lead policy analysts to look at problems differently and to focus on different types and sources of information concerning their possible causes; * substantial sample papers illustrating the methodology; and * a range of illustrative organizational theories, amply described and succinctly grounded intellectually. This book is directed toward students in organizational theory and problem analysis classes and their professors, as well as to school administrators seeking to examine their problems and policies from perspectives that go beyond personal experience.