Organizations (without leadership) repeat actions without a connection to a redeeming purpose for resolving problems in our lives.
Organizations (black boxes) can dominate us and be hard to run.
Leaders can be clueless as to how to solve problems. Often our leaders create the problems.
Thus, a leader is 'identified as the problem'. The results show up, at first in subtle ways, and later in the burst of a bubble. Global examples include our financial crisis and so on.
As followers, we know that the primary cause is our leaders.
As leaders, we know that the primary cause is our followers.
Leaders (and other helpers) rely on simple problem statements. Simple problem statements create simple solution statements. Meanwhile no one thinks about the cues, actions, results, payoffs and reinforcers triggering the expected future results.
So, with an incomplete view of reality, leaders and followers repeat actions with an immediate, positive, and certain payoff. In the meantime, the same repeating actions trigger future, negative, and uncertain payoffs.
We have some options to use -- when we look into our black box.
We can cut holes (window frames) into our black box. The size and location of our windows can give us solid cues to trigger useful actions. We can use our properly placed and sized windows to see and state the problems and solutions of our organization. Our new views help us state the multiple cues and actions within our organization. Our windows help us navigate the problem & solution statements as leaders and followers.
Our windows must help us:
- Design our PROCEDURES (goals, groups, & rules) to shape and channel our actions
- Connect the PROGRAMMING (repeating actions, rituals, & symbols) into helpful results
- Embrace our PEOPLE (who think solid thoughts and feel hope) .
And, our windows help us enter the political playing field -- where we compete to cooperate and cooperate to compete.
Within our windows, we can rotate and zoom in & out of each window. We can over lap, copy & paste, or delete the parts of each window to get new multiple views into our black box.
As we use multiple views into our black box, we transform the invisible into the visible at the intersect of two or more views -- not just for us (as leaders) but also for our beneficiaries and the grantors of our resources.
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Do you agree or disagree with the above statement?
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11 comments:
During our Sept 4th class each group was asked to post the results of their finding/opinions regarding Ohio Standards for principles.
Standard #4 Collaboration:
Principals establish and sustain collaborative learning and shared leadership to promote student learning and achievement of all students.
Opinions:
• Some teachers may require training in different techniques of assessment and classroom management.
• Extended time during the week may be required during the work week in order to facilitate team leaders, teachers and mentors to meet and discuss educational outcomes and processes.
• New assessment techniques will need to be modified and implemented for collaborative learning environments.
• Curriculum mapping or cross walking should be highly recommended between content areas of instruction.
Submitted by,
Scott Elkins and group #4
Standard#2:
Support the implementation of 'high-quality standards-based' instruction resulting in higher levels of achievement for all of our students (learners).
Comment:
Without a doubt I truly believe in this philosophy. Theoretically, standards-based curriculum will provide for an equal footing for all student instruction, regardless of geographic locations or socioeconomic status. I have been a part of and seen successful implementation of standard-based instruction in the military over the last 20 years and it truly works with the right leadership, management and funding.
Unfortunately, because of the political leadership/climate (lack of patience/funding) in education I believe that the pendulum swings too rapidly and too far when trying to measure, correct for deviation, and interpret the results of the standards. Listed are a few problems that contribute to standards-based achievement not reaching full potential.
Money drives all, without proper funding some programs never fully achieve the desired outcomes before they are not fully implemented or terminated. The geographic and socioeconomic problems are never truly solved to put children on an equal footing due to lack of funding and commitment by the political leadership. Because of this, data that is collected and reported is not often a true representation of what the desired outcome could have been.
Change takes time and without leadership at the National level that is consistent over time from political party to political party it will be very difficult to show significant gains over a short period of time. With that, I still believe standards-based instruction is currently the best course of action and we, as educators, should work to refine the process at the local level.
Submitted by,
Scott
I agree Scott that there is a need for a standard based education. the the local level is a major area where goals and progress can be implemented and measured.
The need for money is inherent in education. What has often not been met is an effective means of utilizing the funds. If we are given funds witout knowing how to evaluate and adjust our current policies then we continue to waste resources. Computers were purchsed with a 2gb harddrive and only 32mb RAM because it was a good deal. Additionally, the computers looked good but no one knew how to best utilze them. No leadership and accountability.
I disagree with Scott, without standards based education, teachers were all over the board doing their own thing without any direction or goal. Over time, when different students were brought together, there was a definite lack of education among students in districts that did not have a cohesive plan, thus standards based began to take shape.
Standards based education prescribes a set goal and a proven plan.
As with Cleos statement, yes we do need money in order to make it happen.
Sweitzer is the above anonymous! I am finally on!
Working in a large school system it is difficult to set the procedures that are critical to have a productive "business". Unfortunately, our schools are not run like businesses which leads to problems with the overall program and the people-teachers that work for the schools. Coherence is essential in having a productive system run smoothly.
Comment for item # 6:
Not sure what statement we are really looking for here other than to say I agree with the “healthy group” assessment. Leaders within an organization need to align work-load and align responsibilities for dynamic environments. Everyone needs to feel vested, not only in the final product or outcome, but the processes that it took to get there. Leadership from the highest to the lowest levels need to be involved in decision making process as well as providing a conduit for the common worker or the average consumer to provide feedback on final outcomes. This feedback allows for the leadership to adjust when necessary to refine or change the way of doing business in order to get positive results and keep people vested in the vision.
As with any issue, standards included, there are pros and cons. One thing that standards have done, is to have schools look at how they are teaching and what they are doing. Another sad thing standards have done, is segregate school systems even more. Schools with less money than wealthier school systems have fewer resources to use, resulting in poor scores and therefore poor ratings. Because of poor ratings, funding to poorer districts is in jeopardy. Hence, the school districts that need the money the most, get the least amount of financial support.
Also, standards have at least brought an awareness of how teachers are teaching and the accountability of how teachers teach, but at the same time, standards have taken away the creativity in the class room in some schools with rigid timelines and in some cases, teachers just teaching to the Ohio standards test. This leads me to wonder, how credible a teacher is, if they are only teaching to the Ohio standards test?
I disagree with anonymous who said, “Standards based education prescribes a set goal and a proven plan.” When was standards proven?
Wow, obviously a heated discussion here. One great quote from Chapter one is this: A critic once commented to Cezanne, "That doesn't look anything like a sunset." Cezanne responded, "Then you don't see sunsets the way I do." We are all looking at this issue differently. Imagine how an administrator has to deal with this every day!!!
I personally see standards as a way to organize instruction from K-12 and make sure that our students are getting the information they need to be successful. No one is telling teachers HOW to teach the material. The biggest mistake we can make is to consider these standards as the goal and not the minimum standard for every student in Ohio.
As far as lack of money, if your school is poor and you haven't applied for a grant in the last few years, blame yourself for not having the materials that you need. The money is out there and schools in need come first in the eyes of someone who awards a grant.
I think we have to look at our union when we see some problems with organization and structure. One conclusion from this chapter is, "Our basic premise is that a primary cause of managerial failure is faulty thinking rooted in inadequate ideas." Well, what if an administrator wants to hold a meeting regarding some extremely adequate ideas and then the union president tells all of the teachers that contractually they are not obligated to attend?
I'm a big fan of unions. My father was a teamster. But I also know that the bag boys at ACME dress better than most teachers and when that bell rings, teachers go home.
A leader needs to create an atmosphere at a school where teachers want to meet and want to improve and want their students to excel. When we become administrators, will our teachers goal be simply to get through the day or to follow the vision of the school to the best of their abilities?
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