Blazing New Trails - Connexions

246 CRITICAL ISSUES IN SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
whether or not they can be a choice. Table 1 displays the themes and factors within the
research study with an explanation of how they could or could not be a choice in the change
process. I deduced from the study that there were only four elements within the themes or
factors that could be easily labeled as not a choice: power, formal role, monetary resource
control, and personnel resource control. These pieces of the research are further explained
within the Table 1 as to why they fit in this part of the chart. In contrast, I believe that this
study indicated that all other themes and factors fall within the choice side of the T-chart and
that people within an organization have the ability to change or work within those areas.
Table 1. Choice T-chart with all Themes and Factors of the Research Study.
Not a Choice Choice
Power: Power in this study relates to specific
formal position and unless one chooses to
change jobs within the organization or quit,
level of power is not a choice.
Formal Role: The identified position within
the hierarchy of an organization is the formal
role that a person holds. Again, unless one
chooses to change jobs, quit, or request
reorganization, formal role is not a choice.
Monetary Resource Control: Within a
school district, there is most often an
assigned budget manager to each budget for
all departments and campuses. The budget
assigned to your formal position is most
often not determined by you, unless you are
the Superintendent or School Board.
Personnel Resource Control: The number
of people that report directly to any given
position is not a choice.
Influence: Influence within this study relates to a person’s
ability to work within the factors established that impact
change. All people in an organization choose the level of
influence they will have by making choices about the factors
listed below.
Informal Role: Because informal roles are not assigned, but
assumed because of levels of respect or reverence, knowledge,
willingness to complete work outside of job description, and
other qualifying characteristics, they are a choice.
Who One Communicates With: In the descriptive chart of
the factors, this area dealt with the size of the groups that one
most often communicates with. This is a choice because one
chooses to communicate effectively with team or department
members, grade levels, campus personnel, other
organizational department members, just as one chooses to
take opportunities to place themselves in positions to do so.
How One Communicates: In every position within an
organization, people choose how to communicate with others.
Their communication can exhibit openness, trust, relationship
building skills, collaborative problem solving as well as other
positive characteristics or it may not. This is a choice.
What One Communicates: The collaborative nature of open
communication that celebrates accomplishments of self and
others, shares new found knowledge, and takes into
consideration alternative views and perspectives is the what
that impacts levels of influence.