Availability Degree of Network Leadership Implementation Requirements among Female Education Office Directors in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the availability degree of network leadership implementation requirements among female Education Office directors in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, as well as its obstacles from the perspective of female school leaders (i.e. principals). In order to accomplish her study goals, the researcher used the mixed methods approach (i.e. interpretive design) employing both quantitative and qualitative data. A survey questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were used as data collection tools from the study’s total population (N=333) representing all female K-12 public and private school leaders at Dammam and Khobar cities in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Ultimately, the research sample comprised 320 participants (i.e. response rate of 96.0%). Overall, results of the administered survey questionnaire showed that from participant female school leaders’ perspective, female Education Office directors in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, generally enjoyed a high availability degree of network leadership implementation requirements (i.e. a mean score of 3.81 out of the total 5). Leadership requirements was ranked first, consecutively followed in order by organizational culture requirements, administrative requirements and technological requirements that came last as the lowest network leadership implementation requirements. In tandem, the semi-structured interviews conducted by the researcher with a selected sample of 2 participant female Education Office directors revealed a number of obstacles hindering the availability of such necessary network leadership implementation requirements, most prominently: centralization of senior management, lack of leadership skills and abilities, weak technological infrastructure at school level in all Saudi governorates and cities in general. It's against such backdrop that the researcher concluded her study providing a number of suggestions and recommendations for developing relevant practice and further research in the foreseeable future, including conducting advanced network leadership in-service training and professional development sessions and workshops for both female Education Office directors and school leaders.