Research Proposal Sample

ROLE OF MIDDLE MANAGERS IN SUSTAINING ADEC PEDAGOGICAL CHANGES 1. Working Title The role of middle managers in implementing and sustaining pedagogical and leadership changes and innovations driven by ADEC ( Abu Dhabi Education Council). 2. Research Questions This research paper will aim to discuss the role of the middle managers in implementing ADEC education changes as articulated in ADEC strategic plan. It will also study to what extent are ADEC school cultures supportive of the new role ADEC is expecting from middle managers to play in being effective school leaders in the reform. The research will attempt to answer the following questions: a) What is the position of the middle managers in the organization structure and what are their roles in the organization? b) To what extent do the managers engage in introducing or leading employees of ADEC schools towards change? c) What are the moral conducts and principles that guide the organization towards change? d) Do the middle managers operate as departmental leaders and do the teachers perceive them as leaders? e) What are the factors that promote or hinder the managers in trying to sustain change?

f) Are the managers supported by their principles in leading change at the departmental and across departmental levels? g) What are the skills required by the managers in sustaining change? h) What are the benefits of sustaining change both to the managers and to the organization? LITERATURE REVIEW Fullan (1999, Pg 4) defines change as the new of doing things. Change is inevitable and all people in the organization have to embrace. According to Elmore (2000, pg 53) change is vital in the educational sector and each member in the organization has to embrace it. The middle managers apply their managerial skills in ensuring that change is effected in the organization (Murphy & Hall 2008, pg 84). They educate people on the benefits of change (Meek 2010, pg 183). The managers act as effective leader in implementing change (Kozma 2003, pg 9). The managers are motivated if they obtain support from their subordinates and superiors (Fullan 2003, pg 18). Managers should train employees and motivate them to be agents of change (Blandford 2006, pg 72). Managers need to have the skills of handling resistance to change (Day et al 2000, Pg 26). Employees should be cooperative in effecting change for the benefit of the organization (Fullan 2001, pg 34). Blusher (2006, pg 53) recommends that change leaders in schools should harmonize the learning process with change so as to achieve effective and desired results. 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Primary data will be obtained from questionnaires and interviews. Questionnaires will be distributed to the managers, teachers and the admin staff to find out their opinions on the subject of study. The questions included in the questionnaires will be based on the research
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questions mentioned. The questionnaires will promote anonymity so that the participants will give out as much information as possible. Interviews will be conducted to the staff and teachers. Open ended interviews will be conducted to the staff to obtain effective opinion on the roles of the managers in effecting change. The information obtained will be confidential as per the requirements of the participants .Secondary data will be collected from various literatures and websites so as to evaluate the opinion of other researchers and authors on the same subject. The study will be based on the change processes in the pedagogical schools. The research will be conducted on an explanatory, exploratory and formal study so as to understand more on the concepts of the subject under study. The study will be limited to the aspect of change in the pedagogical schools, the roles of the middle managers in effecting and sustaining change and the benefits acquired in sustaining such changes. 4. ETHICAL ISSUES There are several ethical issues involved in the conduct of the research. The participants in the interviews would want their identity to be anonymous due to security purposes. The employees and the teachers would not give information exclusively if their information will be linked to their identity. The second ethical issue involves lack of transparency in the participants. The employees of the organization have a probability of giving the wrong information so as to favor or discriminate the managers. It would be difficult to evaluate whether the information given is honest and true. The third ethical issue facing the study is that the respondents of the questionnaires may give false information or fail to return the questionnaires. An extensive follow up has to be made on the questionnaires and this is expensive in terms of money and
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costs. The fourth ethical issue to be considered is that the managers are not easily accessible and prior appointments have to be made to book for interviews with the managers or the distribution and collection of the questionnaires. The managers may lack enough time to fill the information required and this may lead to inefficiency in the research practice. These ethical issues have to be planned for effectively so that they can not affect the schedule set for the conduct of the research. 5. RELEVANCE OF THE RESEARCH This research process will help me in gaining more knowledge and information on the role of the middle managers in ADEC schools. It will help me to understand the structure of the organization and the role it plays in the society. As a change agent, I will acquire more skills relating to change management and the processes of sustaining acquired change in the ADEC educational sector. I will be able to share the research findings with the main stakeholders involved in the reform process namely education reformers, school principals, parents as well as teachers. The scholars will also gain a better view of the role of the middle managers aim the transformation process and the benefits and hindrances they go through while implementing change. The study will help me gain an in-depth insight into a host of factors and variables that underlie the change process. The study will enable me to make future recommendations on the very complex concept of change on ADEC schools. The research will help me in assisting future researchers on the subject by giving quality recommendations and literature on the subject. Above all, The findings of the research will help change agents operating in the region acquire a better understanding of the socio-cultural challenges and contextual factors facing education reform programmes.

6. REFERENCES 1. Blandford, S. 2006. Middle Leadership in Schools: Harmonizing Leadership and Learning. 2nd Edition. United States: Pearson Education. 2. Busher, H. 2006. Understanding Educational Leadership: People, Power and Culture. United States: Open University Press. 3. Day, C., Harris, A., Hadfield, M., Tolley, H. & Beresford, J. 2000. Leading Schools in Times of Change. Milton Keynes: Open University Press. 4. Elmore, R. 2000. Building a New Structure for School Leadership. United States: Albert Shanker Institute. 5. Fullan, M. 1999. Change Forces: the Sequel. United States: Falmer Press.

6. Fullan, M. 2001. The New Meaning of Educational Change. United States: Teachers College Press. 7. Fullan, M. 2003. Change Forces with a Vengence. United States: Routeledge Falmer. Kozma, B. R. 2003. Technology, Innovation, and Educational Change: A Global Perspective.United States: ISTE

8. Meek, L. V. 2010. The Changing Dynamics of Higher Education Middle Management. UnitedStates: Springer. 9. Murphy, P. F. & Hall, K. 2008. Learning and Practice: Agency and Identities. United States: SAGE Publications Ltd.

7. TIME SCALE Week 4 Section to Complete Review the research project requirements
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Formulate a research topic Initiate project work Data collection Distribution and collection of questionnaires.

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Conducting interviews Data analysis

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Report writing Report submission