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Leading early childhood education centers as professional bureaucracies : social organizational structures in Finnish early childhood education

Year of publication

2024

Authors

Roponen, Hannele; Fonsén, Elina; Ukkonen-Mikkola, Sirkka Tuulikki; Ahtiainen, Raisa

Abstract

Purpose This study examines the social organizational structure of one early childhood education (ECE) center in Finland and the relationship between this structure and the roles and the responsibilities of the members of the organization. Design/methodology/approach The research is a qualitative case study with ethnographic features. Its variables for content analysis are based on Henry Mintzberg's theory of organizational design. Findings The study's results show that the organizational structure of the ECE center follows the organizational configuration of a Professional bureaucracy and that the multiprofessional teams follow the configuration of a Simple structure. The structures for centralization and decentralization are suitable for a professional bureaucracy, but the roles of the members of the organization and the processes for shared decision-making lack clarification. The shortage of qualified ECE teachers disrupts the function of the organization and the work of ECE leaders. Research limitations/implications The educational background of subjects may have affected the findings. Originality/value The study uses Henry Mintzberg's organizational structure theory to evaluate how and why power is distributed and activities are coordinated at the ECE center. The results also show what parts of the organization pose challenges that most commonly disrupt the organization's operations. With these findings, it is possible to expand the understanding of roles and responsibilities in the currently reforming ECE environment and what ECE centers need to function effectively. The study is part of a larger research project and will be continued to examine the leadership culture of the ECE center.
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Organizations and authors

University of Helsinki

Fonsén Elina

Ahtiainen Raisa

Ukkonen-Mikkola Sirkka Tuulikki

University of Jyväskylä

Fonsen Elina Orcid -palvelun logo

Roponen Hannele Orcid -palvelun logo

Ukkonen-Mikkola Tuulikki Orcid -palvelun logo

Publication type

Publication format

Article

Parent publication type

Journal

Article type

Original article

Audience

Scientific

Peer-reviewed

Peer-Reviewed

MINEDU's publication type classification code

A1 Journal article (refereed), original research

Publication channel information

Publisher

Emerald

Volume

38

Issue

1

Pages

286-301

​Publication forum

58400

​Publication forum level

1

Open access

Open access in the publisher’s service

Yes

Open access of publication channel

Partially open publication channel

Self-archived

Yes

Other information

Fields of science

Educational sciences

Keywords

[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Publication country

United Kingdom

Internationality of the publisher

International

Language

English

International co-publication

No

Co-publication with a company

No

DOI

10.1108/ijem-06-2023-0287

The publication is included in the Ministry of Education and Culture’s Publication data collection

Yes