ICTs and New Zealand Primary School Boards of Trustees

Key Researcher: 
Dr Suzanne Grant, Dept of Strategy & Human Resource Management, Waikato Management School.

Research Question:
How may information and communication technologies currently or potentially be used by New Zealand primary school Boards of Trustees to enhance their governance?

Abstract: 
The use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is becoming increasing prevalent across many aspects of society, promoted in part by initiatives such as e-commerce and e-government.  The extent to which growth in ICTs and associated activities is occurring in the not-for-profit sector of society is explored in this research; with particular regard to how ICTs may assist school Boards of Trustees enhance their approach to governance.

Through appreciative inquiry, an action research method, the ICT adoption and usage has been investigated for four school Boards of Trustees, considering influences on individual Boards as well as across the research group.  The original focus of the investigation was to contribute towards a better understanding of the impact and potential improvements in governance, management and leadership that may be able to be obtained through a Board’s choice of, or commitment to, ICTs. The reach of the investigation went further however, with all participants gaining greater understanding of school governance. The dominance of fiscal matters and the balance of power within the Board context are among related areas considered.

Through the adoption of a critical perspective, this research also seeks to evaluate the application of appreciative inquiry as a method of case study based action research.  In doing so, a contribution is made to the scholarship of research methodology.

Keywords:
Community development, community governance, appreciative inquiry.

Research Findings: 
The research process and associated outcomes did not emerge as anticipated. Participating Trustees were keen to also take the opportunity to explore more deeply their understanding of governance. In several instances Trustees were too over worked and under resourced to be concerned with ICT implementations. Those instances where ICTs were incorporated into Board processes were driven by the School Principal – raising important democratic concerns regarding the ability of the Principal to influence methods of Board communication.

Research Implications:
Business Relevance
The ability of School Boards of Trustees to perform their governance task impacts upon the success of their school - which in turn impacts upon the education of our future generations.  Providing a link between school and community, the Board of Trustees is often the first contact with regard to school/business interactions - be they for supply/purchase of resources or for a potential sponsorship partnership.  How a school approaches its governance role (including use of technologies), will impact upon any business/school/community relationship.  A better understanding of these processes and influences benefits all parties concerned.

The role of school trustees as individuals who are contributing their time and skills should not be overlooked.  These individuals may also be employers, employees and consumers.  The trustees participating in this research have further developed their knowledge, skills and capabilities in areas such as governance, management, leadership and ICTs generally.  The benefits of this capacity building will flow through to their other activities, e.g. work, family and leisure activities.

Appreciative inquiry has been recognized in literature as an effective means of implementing change within an organisation. In line with the positive outcomes promoted by sustainable business practices, we may see an increased commitment to organisation processes which reflect positive values.  A greater understanding of appreciative inquiry as a research method will enhance our ability to effectively use this research tool.

Implications for Academic Research/Teaching
The research process and associated outcomes did not emerge as anticipated, leading me to reflect critically on both the research process and my influence within it. Critical theory provided a useful lens for this analysis, resulting in the conceptual development of critical appreciative processes (Grant 2006, Grant & Humphries 2006). The value of appreciative inquiry as a research methodology was shown to reside in its ontology, rather than technicalities of implementation. Integrated application of appreciative inquiry and critical theory was shown as providing a means through which we may deepen our insight and recognition of human endeavours.

Implications for Policy Makers and/or Stakeholders
Applications of ICTs may appear ‘helpful’ to BOT governance processes, but uncritical uptake of these applications may potentially constrain the democratic processes at local school and societal levels. Identification of time and funding constraints indicate BOTs may be prevented from reaching their true potential. Attempts to enhance governance through additional applications of ICTs will be of minimal effect unless efforts are made to better understand and resource the governance efforts of Trustees.

Relevance to Society
The purported empowerment of the community as mandated in the Education Act 1989 comes at a heavy cost, for schools and individuals. Care must be taken to ensure that ‘efficiency’ gains are not made at the expense of democratic processes.

Future Directions:
This research is now complete.

Contact details:                   
Suzanne Grant, (07) 856 2889 ext 6409, slgrant@waikato.ac.nz.

Funding:  
Waikato Management School.

Timing:  
February 2003 – August 2006

Publications:
Grant, S.L. (2006) A paradox in action? A critical analysis of an appreciative inquiry. PhD Thesis, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.

Grant, S.L. (2006) Community (not for profit) governance – What are some of the issues? Third Sector Research, 12(1): 39-56

Grant, S.L. (2006) Critical appreciative processes: Adding value through paradox, 5th European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management Studies, Trinity College, Dublin Ireland, 17-18 July.

Grant, S.L.; & Humphries, M. (2006) Critical evaluation of appreciative inquiry: Bridging an apparent paradox? Action Research, 4(4): 401-418

Grant S.L. (2005) Reflections on the research process, Qualitative Research in Business Symposium, Massey University, Albany Campus, October.

Grant S.L. (2005) Community (Not for Profit) governance – What’s involved? 9th Annual Waikato Management School Student Research Conference, Hamilton, October

Grant, S.L. (2004) A critical approach to appreciative inquiry: Bridging the apparent paradox? Qualitative Research in Business Symposium, Massey University Albany Campus, 3 December.

Grant, S.L. (2004) Information and communication technologies: A tool for overcoming limitations of space, place and time? Australia New Zealand Third Sector Research Conference, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Australia, November

Grant, S.L., (2004) Dreams are shackled by costs and practicalities – The current and potential use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by New Zealand Primary School Boards of Trustees to enhance their governance, British Academy of Management, St Andrews University, Scotland, September

Grant, S.L., (2003), Lessons from the field, 7th Annual Student Research Conference, Waikato Management School, October.

Grant, S.L. (2002) Partnerships: The rhetoric and reality of Tomorrow’s Schools, Australia New Zealand Third Sector Research (ANZTSR) Conference, Unitec Auckland, 27-29th November.

Grant, S.L. (2002) Appreciative Inquiry - An introduction, 6th Annual Student Research Conference, Waikato Management School, October.