1.

How do you usually make sense problems and events in your work setting and how
might the use of multiple perspectives based on different models of organizations
and different cultural experiences expand your repertoire?
From the ED 640 course, and from reading Bolman and Deal (2008), I have learned that I
really see things within my work setting, and I would say within life in general, from a
human resource perspective. I am aware that this is a unique viewpoint compared to
many others that I work with, and now that I realize this, it helps me understand why my
take on things is often different than others that I work with. I really dont have a mind
for structural or political thinking, but I tend to align myself with those who do, and know
that I can lean on them for assistance in this area when needed.

2. What theoretical approach to understanding how organizations function seems to

fit your own experiences and interests best at this stage of your study? If you find
more than one model or metaphor to be helpful, what are they and how do they
complement each other?
Applying Collective Impact and Systems theory has helped me better analyze the changes
that are taking place within my organization. I dont know if these theories are as wellsuited for other organizations, but they seem to fit well with the type of work I do, and
reflect the collaborative impact that working with a variety of partners, with shared goals,
provides. I find the metaphor of a brain to be quite useful in characterizing learning
organization. In addition, the cultures and communities metaphor is also useful as each of
the organization brings its own culture and what feels like multiple communities that all
speak slightly different languages and bring with them a different set of values, beliefs

and rituals. Assumptions between organizations can create misunderstandings and setbacks, and even something as simple as translating acronyms is cause for confusion.
However, our partnership came together to forward our shared beliefs and values that
healthy students are better learners, and to try to instill these values and create norms
around practices and policies that support these values.
3. How do you experience and express your own professional identity now and how
has your initial work in the doctoral program affected your approach to your
current role and responsibilities and/or your thinking about what you may wish to
do in the future.
In considering my own professional identity within my organization and personal
leadership style, I seem to span between human relations and adaptive leadership models.
As described by human relations theory, I seek to understand and support the social needs
and behaviors of those I work with and feel that this is essential to success of the
organization as a whole. The definition of adaptive leadership also fits me well. As
defined by Marion and Gonzales, it is not about heroic leadership it may not even be
recognized as leadership until one focuses on what it accomplishes. (p. 244). My work
in the doctoral program, and specifically in the Organizational Leadership Theory and
Research in Education Class has helped me identify how my leadership skills fit into an
organization and where my strengths and weaknesses lie. I now have a better
understanding of why I sometimes approach problems differently than others than I work
with, or are interested and concerned about different aspects of the work.

4. How might your current work environment and/or your interactions with other

organizations serve as a context or laboratory for helping you to frame an important

question that can guide the development of your dissertation theme?
I am really hoping that the work of my organization and the partnership I have with
another state agency organization will be instrumental in shaping the context of what I
research for my dissertation as well as helping provide data. It is this partnership that I
have written about in my core paper and that I hope to explore further in the coming
years as I work towards my dissertation.

5. What will be your major "take aways" from this class that you can use in your
current work or in your development of a dissertation topic?
The major take-aways for me has been the realization that we all have a different lens
from which we make sense of organizational change. It has really helped me to identify
and understand my own human resources perspective. For me, this explains a lot, and it
also explains why I others that I work with dont value the same things that I do, or at
least in the same way. It was helpful to begin using metaphors to help describe and
analyze organizations and it was also very helpful to begin thinking through my own
leadership style and reading more widely about types of leadership. In developing a
dissertation topic, and planning to my current partnership between state agencies, the
Collective Impact/ Systems Change theoretical frameworks and the cultures and
communities metaphor will be extremely helpful.

References
Bolmon, B.L.& Deal, T.E. (2008). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice and
leadership. San Francisco, California Jossey Bass, A Wiley Imprint.
Marion, R. & Gonzales, L. (2014). Leadership in education: Organizational theory for
the practitioner. Long Grove, Illinois. Waveland Press.