Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Comparative Analysis of the Fractal Leadership Practices of Female and Male School Principals

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Chaos, Complexity and Leadership 2017 (ICCLS 2017)

Part of the book series: Springer Proceedings in Complexity ((SPCOM))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 1048 Accesses

Abstract

At the apex of educational research lies a deliberate effort to investigate the most appropriate ways in which leadership can best be served. This is precipitated by both the changing educational terrain due to paradigm shifts and the need to keep up with the times on the part of educational leaders. The result of this has been a rise of a variety of leadership approaches that can be obtained within this complex jigsaw. One of such new leadership approaches is fractal leadership and it guided this research. The views of teachers regarding the fractal leadership practices of male and female schools principals were explored in a comparative setting. This was accomplished via a Likert-type questionnaire developed by the researchers. According to the findings of the study, the fractal leadership-related practices of male school principals were found to be at a moderate level of effectiveness, while the fractal leadership-related practices of female school principals were found to be at a low level of effectiveness. Responses of teachers regarding fractal leadership-related practices of female and male school principals showed significant differences in some dimensions or elements based on school type, age, educational qualification, and professional experience. Meanwhile, responses of teachers regarding the fractal leadership-related practices of female and male school principals showed no significant differences in all dimensions or elements based on gender and marital status. In order to improve on the fractal leadership-related practices of school principals, a number of appropriate recommendations have been put forward for institutionalization. Equally, recommendations for further research are presented.

The paper is drawn from a PhD dissertation of Ssali Muhammadi Bisaso submitted to the department of Educational Management, Supervision, Planning and Economics, Institute Of Educational Sciences of Hacettepe University.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Avcı, A. (2015). Öğretmen Algılarına Göre Okul Müdürlerinin Liderlik Stilleri. (leadership styles of school principals according to perceptions of teachers) Hasan Ali Yücel Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. Cilt: 12-2, Sayı: 24, 2015, s.161-189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Avolio, B. J., & Gardner, W. L. (2005). Authentic Leadership Development: Getting to The Root of Positive Forms of Leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 16, 315–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baloğlu, N., & ve Karadağ, E. (2008). Ruhsal liderlik üzerine teorik bir çözümleme. Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Yönetimi, 58, 165–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bass. (1985). model of transformational leadership. In T. F. Mech & G. B. McCabe (Eds.), Leadership and academic librarians (pp. 66–82). Westport, CT: Greenwood.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binsztok, A., & Krzysztof, L. (2006). University as a fractal organization of knowledge. Annual Conference on Higher Education Management and Development in Central, Southern and Eastern Europe: Danube University Krems, 26–28 November 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boekhorst, J. A. (2015). The role of authentic leadership in fostering workplace inclusion: A social information processing perspective. Human Resource Management, 54(2), 241–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, M. E., Treviño, L. K., & Harrison, D. (2005). Ethical leadership: A social learning perspective for construct development and testing. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 97, 117–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, K. et al. (2012). How team experience affects perceptions of leadership styles. Sociology/Anthropology. https://wp.stolaf.edu/sociology/files/2013/06/How-Team-Experience-Affects-Perceptions-of-Leadership-Styles.pdf

  • Burns, J. M. (1978). Leadership (1st ed.). New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Covey, S. (1992). Principle-centered Leadershih. New York: Simon and Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dansereau, F., Seitz, R. S., Chia-Yen, C., Shaughnessy, B., & Yammarino, F. J. (2013). What makes leadership, leadership? Using self-expansion theory to integrate traditional and contemporary approaches. The Leadership Quarterly, 24, 798–821.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dağlı, A. (2010). Genel Lise Okul Müdürlerinin Öğrenen Liderlik Davranışları. Elektronik Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi. www.esosder.org. Kış-2010 C.9 S.31 (073-087) ISSN:1304-0278.

  • Demir, C., Yılmaz, K., & Çevirgen, A. (2010). Liderlik Yaklaşımları ve Liderlik Tarzlarına İlişkin Bir Araştırma. Alanya İşletme Fakültesi Dergisi, 2/1, 129–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doğan, R., & Genç, M. (2006). Yaşamımızı Çevreleyen İlginç Geometrik Şekiller: Fraktallar. Journal of İstanbul Kültür University., 3, 95–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, A. M. (2015). Thank you for your leadership: The power of distributed leadership in a digital conversion model. Boston: Pearson. ISBN-10: 0133563189 • ISBN-13: 9780133563184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merkezi, E.-B.-S. G. (2006). Türk Eğitim Sisteminde Yeni Paradigma Arayışları. Bildiriler Kitabı. Ankara: Pozitif Matbaacılık. Eğitimciler Birliği Sendikası. 978-975-6153-08-6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekmerikçi, K. A. (2011). A study on involvement and commitment of employees in Turkey. J. Pub. Admin. Pol. Res., 3(3), 68–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epitropaki, O., Sy, T., Martin, R., Tram-Quon, S., & Topakas, A. (2013). Implicit leadership and followership theories “in the wild”: Taking stock of information-processing approaches to leadership and followership in organizational settings. The Leadership Quarterly, 24(6), 858–881.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erçetin, Ş. Ş. (1999). Kuantum Liderlik Paradigması ile Eğitim Liderliğinin Açımlanması (Eplication of Educational Leadership with Quantum Leadership Pradigm). Cumhuriyet Döneminde Eğitim. Talim ve Terbiye Dairesi Ankara: M.E.B. Yayınları.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erçetin, Ş. Ş. (2000). Lider Sarmalında Vizyon(Vision in Spiral of Leaders). Ankara: Nobel Yayın Dağıtım.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erçetin, Ş. Ş., & Açıkalın, Ş. N. (2016). Lead-Entropy: Redefining Leadership from the Perspective of Organizational Entropy. In Ş. Ş. Erçetin & H. Bağcı (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Chaos and Complexity Theory in the Social Sciences, Ch. 14 (pp. 183–194). IGI Global Publication. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-0148-0.ch014.

  • Erçetin, Ş. Ş., & Bisaso, S. M. (2015). Chapter 4:The incorporation of fractals into educational management and its implications for school management models. In Ş. Ş. Erçetin & S. Banerjee (Eds.), Chaos, complexity and leadership 2013 (pp. 35–55). Cham: Springer Proceedings in Complexity.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erçetin, Ş. Ş., & Kamacı, M. C. (2008). Quantum Leadership Paradigm. World Applied Sciences Journal, 6(3), 865–868.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erçetin, Ş. Ş., Bisaso, S. M., & Saeed, F. (2015). Chapter 12: Understanding Chaos and complexity in education systems through conceptualization of fractal properties. In Ş. Ş. Erçetin & S. Banerjee (Eds.), Chaos, complexity and leadership 2013 (pp. 147–161). Cham: Springer Proceedings in Complexity.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erçetin, Ş. Ş., Potas, N., Açıkalın, Ş. N., & Kısa, N. (2011). Multi-Dimensional Glocal Leadership Scale. Middle East Journal of Scientific Research, 8(2), 314–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fein, E. C., Tziner, A., & Vasiliu, C. (2010). Age cohort effects, gender, and Romanian leadership preferences. The Journal of Management Development, 29(4), 364–376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fjaerli, B. A. B. (2015). Differences in perception of male and female leaders in two work domains. Master thesis. Buskerud and Vestfold University College, Faculty of Technology and Maritime Sciences.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fusco, T., O’Riordan, S., & Palmer, P. (2015). Authentic leaders are… conscious, competent, confident and congruent: A grounded theory of group coaching authentic leadership development. International Coaching Psychology Review, 10(2), 131–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galbraith, P. (2004). Organisational leadership and chaos theory. Journal of Educational Administration, 42(1), 9–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goleman, D. (2000). Intelligent leadership. Executive Excellence, 3, 17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R., & McKee, A. (2002). The New Leaders. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Günay, D., & Kabaca, T. (2013). 7. Sınıf Öğrencilerinin Fraktallara İlişkin İnformel Anlamalarının Belirlenmesi. Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education, 4(3), 169–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jamali, D. (2004). Changing management paradigms: Implications for educational institutions. Beirut, Lebanon: Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, American University of Beirut.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karakuş, F. (2010). Fraktal Kart Etkinliğiyle Fraktal Geometriye Giriş. İlköğretim Online, 9(1), ou:1-6. [Online]: http://ilkogretim-online.org.tr

  • Karakuş, F. (2011). Ortaöğretim düzeyi için tasarlanan fraktal geometri öğretim programının değerlendirilmesi. Doktora tezi. Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi, Eğitim Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Trabzon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lester, C. N. (1975). Leadership styles: A key to effectiveness. Blacksburg: Virginia polytechnic institute and state university.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Y.-Z., (2005). Fractal administrative organization: New exploration on administrative organizational pattern. Workshop on Innovations in Governance and Public Service to Achieve a Harmonious Society. Beijing: December 7, 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loh, J. H. (2010). The relationship between leadership style and work values of employees in the printing industry in Penang. Master of Business Administration Research Report.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDaniel, R. R. (1997). Strategic leadership: A view from quantum and chaos theories. Health Care Management Review, 22, 21–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Memişoğlu, S. P. (2001). Yeni liderlik yaklaşımları ışığında eğitim örgütlerinde lider yöneticilere duyulan gereksinim. AİBÜ eğitim fakültesi dergisi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitonga-Monga, J., Coetzee, M., & Cilliers, F. V. N. (2012). Perceived leadership style and employee participation in a manufacturing company in the democratic republic of Congo. African Journal of Business Management, 6(15), 5389–5398. 18 April, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mott, E. P. (1972). The characteristics of effective organization. New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osuola, O. I. C. (2002). Cross-cultural leadership style: A comparative study of U.S. and Nigeria financial institutions. Journal International Business Research, 1, 83–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polatcan, M., & Titrek, O. (2014). The relationship between leadership behaviors of school principals and their organizational cynicism attitudes. Procedia – Social and Behavioural Sciences, 141., 25 August 2014, 1291–1303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powers, T. (2011). Fractal leadership: Replicating success. Wichita Falls ISD: Assistant Superintendent.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raye, J. (2012). Fractal organization theory. Petaluma 2012. http://journals.isss.org/index.php/proceedings56th/article/viewFile/1796/663

  • Rouse, M. E. (2005). Leadership practices: Perceptions of principals and teachers in sullivan county. Electronic Theses and Dissertations. http://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1070

  • Sağır, M., & Memişoğlu, S. P. (2013). İlköğretim Okulu Yöneticilerinin Öğretimsel Liderlik Rollerinde Sorunla Karşılaşma Dereceleri ve Karşılaştıkları Sorunlar. KSÜ Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi / KSU Journal of Social Sciences, 10(2), 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, S. (2010). Perceived leadership capacities of Malaysian principals. International Journal of Educational Administration, 3, 547–560.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shoham, S., & Hasgall, A. (2005). Knowledge workers as fractals in a complex adaptive organization. Knowledge & Process Management. Jul–Sep 2005, 12(3), 225–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Topper, B., & Lagadec, P. (2013). Fractal crises – A new path for crisis theory and management. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, 21, 4–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tripathi, S. (2013). Fluid fractals: Leadership at the apex of local authority in England. Thesis Paper. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/3186

  • Uğurluoğlu, Ö., & ve Çelik, Y. (2009). Örgütlerde Stratejik Liderlik ve Özellikleri. Hacettepe Sağlık İdaresi Dergisi, 12(2), 121–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dierendonck, D. (2011). Servant Leadership: A Review and Synthesis. Journal of Management, 37(4), 1228–1261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vodicka, D. (2015). Fractal leadership. School administrator. American Association of School Administrators, 72(8), 4, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waldman, D. A., & Galvin, B. M. (2008). Alternative perspectives of responsible leadership. Organizational Dynamics, 37(4), 327–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong, C. B., Magee, J. C., Maddux, W. W., & Galinsky, A. D. (2006). Power, culture, and action: Considerations in the expression and enactment of power in East Asian and Western societies. In Y. R. Chen (Ed.), National culture and groups (Research on managing groups and teams) (pp. 53–73). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Islamic University, Mbale, Uganda

    Ssali Muhammadi Bisaso

  2. International Science Association-Ankara, Turkey, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Şefika Şule Erçetin

Authors
  1. Ssali Muhammadi Bisaso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Şefika Şule Erçetin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. International Science Association, Ankara, Turkey

    Şefika Şule Erçetin

  2. International Science Association, Ankara, Turkey

    Nihan Potas

Key Terms and Definitions

Key Terms and Definitions

The terms below were used frequently in the study and they laid a foundation for the pursuit of fractal leadership. They were conceptualized as follows:

Fractal :

a curve or geometrical figure, each part of which has the same statistical character as the whole. They are useful in modeling structures (such as snowflakes) in which similar patterns recur at progressively smaller scales and in describing partly random or chaotic phenomena such as crystal growth and galaxy formation.

Leadership :

the action of leading a group of people or an organization or the ability to do this. It is thus the influential increment over and above mechanical compliance with routine directives of the organization.

Fractal Leadership :

a leadership system based on fractal properties. Focus is no longer a hierarchy system but more of a web design, encouraging people to highlight their strengths and being confident enough to make a difference.

Principal :

according to Wikipedia, a principal is the teacher with the greatest responsibility for the management of a college; can also be the head of an educational institution especially a school. Sometimes a principal can also be called a head teacher, headmaster, and headmistress.

Teacher :

according to Merriam-Webster, a teacher is a person or thing that teaches something; especially a person whose job is to teach students about certain subjects.

Chaos :

the property of a complex system whose behavior is so unpredictable as to appear random, owing to great sensitivity to small changes in conditions. It is thus a sensitive dependence on initial conditions, domination of uncertainty, and instability to individual, group, society, or the world

Complexity :

the state or quality of being intricate or complicated.

Perception :

according to Merriam-Webster, perception is the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses. It is the way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Bisaso, S.M., Erçetin, Ş.Ş. (2019). A Comparative Analysis of the Fractal Leadership Practices of Female and Male School Principals. In: Erçetin, Ş., Potas, N. (eds) Chaos, Complexity and Leadership 2017. ICCLS 2017. Springer Proceedings in Complexity. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89875-9_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89875-9_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-89874-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-89875-9

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation