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1. What do you think about the "pot-stirring" approach that the new principal decided on? What are its advantages? What are its disadvantages?
The pot-stirring approach is necessary in this case, as leaders like Dr. Jack Prince need to serve their schools as “change masters,” who plan change proactively to help the school and its stakeholders meet core objectives (p. 348). This scenario is also an example of what can be called “essential change,” which is internally driven, based on the need to work toward performance outcomes and objectives (p. 348). As such, the situation “requires that persons within the system work cooperatively to transform behavior or system components,” (p. 348). While Prince is working to shake things up at Norden Township Junior-Senior High, he is also working cooperatively with allies like Dr. Amy Kim and a considerable number of faculty—as well as community members.
Antagonists like Bob Neuman represent resistance to change. Resistance to change is part of the “built-in inertia” that can plague educational institutions and prevent them from reaching their potential (p. 349). People like Bob Neuman resist change when “they fear it will reduce their power and influence or make their knowledge and skills obsolete,” which is clearly the case here as Neuman is the leader of the teacher’s union and has power in that official circle as well as in the smaller, less formal group of his “followers” at the school (p. 349). Some of the factors that fuel resistance to change beyond fear of the unknown include...
349). Neuman exhibits each of these factors, which is why anything that Prince does will be perceived of as “pot-stirring.” To be effective, Prince needs to create a climate of trust, which requires actively constructing a new organizational climate. Prince also needs to have a talk with the teachers about their status and security, offering reassurances that both will remain unchanged even when the improvements to curriculum and technologies are implemented. Finally, Prince needs to understand and address Neuman’s subculture and the role that clique plays in terms of cultural traditions and group relationships at the school.
2. Identify the following in the case: the change agent, potential supporters, and potential dissenters.
Dr. Jack Prince is the change agent, and potential supporters include Dr. Amy Kim and the bulk of the faculty. Given that Prince’s vision will promote improved student outcomes, parents can also be considered supporters of change, as can the school district as a whole. Potential dissenters include Bob Neuman and all of his supporters.
3. What would you have done in this situation? Why? Explain your proposal in terms of the material discussed in this chapter.
I would have behaved exactly as Dr. Prince and started strategizing for planned change. The text points out how planned change is usually preferable to reactive change, because leaders can more conscientiously set goals and meet them.…
References
Chapter 13: Systemic Change
Forde, C. & Dickson, B. (2017). The place of leadership development for change agency in teacher education curricula for diversity. In: Florian L., Panti? N. (eds) Teacher Education for the Changing Demographics of Schooling. Inclusive Learning and Educational Equity, vol 2. Springer, Cham
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