Fundamentalists, priests, martyrs and converts: a typology of first tier management in Further Education

Abstract

This article presents findings from a study of first tier managers in English Further Education colleges, a role critically neglected within the literature, despite its centrality to organisational effectiveness and learner success. The role was found to be diverse, contested and elastic and while first tier managers were found to be highly autonomous, the research also documented the high levels of ‘home invasion’ of work as first tier managers attempted to meet the immediate gratification needs of senior managers, learners and lecturers. While most management typologies are founded upon a dialectic between organisation and staff, this research suggests that first tier managers operate within a trialectic of organisation, team and students. As such, a typology of first tier management is proposed based upon metaphors of faith which includes four categories: fundamentalists, priests, converts and martyrs, each exhibiting prioritisation within the trialectic and each faith‐orientation determining how the role is performed.

Keywords:

• first tier managers
• Further Education
• colleges
• administration
• leadership
• metaphors
• autonomy
• management styles
• leadership
• first line management
• public sector management

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Professor Emeritus Ian McNay and Dr Jill Jameson for their support throughout this research and for their helpful comments on this article.