A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Working as early childhood centre directors and deputies : perspectives from Australia, Finland and Norway (2019)

Halttunen, L., Sims, M., Waniganayake, M., Hadley, F., Bøe, M., Hognestad, K., & Heikka, J. (2019). Working as early childhood centre directors and deputies : perspectives from Australia, Finland and Norway. In P. Strehmel, J. Heikka, E. Hujala, J. Rodd, & M. Waniganayake (Eds.), Leadership in Early Education in Times of Change : Research from five Continents (pp. 231-252). Verlag Barbara Budrich. https://doi.org/10.3224/8474219918

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Halttunen, Leena; Sims, Margaret; Waniganayake, Manjula; Hadley, Fay; Bøe, Marit; Hognestad, Karin; Heikka, Johanna

Parent publication: Leadership in Early Education in Times of Change : Research from five Continents

Parent publication editors: Strehmel, Petra; Heikka, Johanna; Hujala, Eeva; Rodd, Jillian; Waniganayake, Manjula

ISBN: 978-3-8474-2199-3

eISBN: 978-3-8474-1224-3

Publication year: 2019

Pages range: 231-252

Number of pages in the book: 309

Publisher: Verlag Barbara Budrich

Place of Publication: Leverkusen

Publication country: Germany

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3224/8474219918

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/65319

Abstract

This research is based in early childhood centres in Australia, Finland and Norway, considered the leadership work of centre Directors and Deputy Directors. Theoretically, this study is situated within the global landscape of neoliberalism that Sims (2017) describes as forcing the reshaping of early childhood policy in numerous OECD countries. Essentially qualitative in design, this exploratory study uses data gathered via a short background survey questionnaire, content analysis of job description statements, and a follow up interview with each participant. Findings indicate that there are differences within and across the three countries in the way these jobs are structured. It appears that the expectations of each role and how participants engage in leadership are framed by their centre contexts. In Australia, leaders of centres achieving an excellent quality rating tend to focus on relationship work when making leadership decisions. In Finland, Directors and Deputy Directors are expected to collaborate as partners when overseeing the work of 2-3 centres and other services. In Norway, there has been a redistribution of work where Deputy Directors have a co-responsibility in leadership enactment. When taken together, these findings illuminate new insights on how Directors experience leadership when Deputies are part of the leadership team in early childhood settings.

Keywords: early childhood education and care; day care centres; managers and executives; leadership (properties); job description; neoliberalism

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2019

JUFO rating: 1