| Abstract [eng] |
This master’s thesis analyses distributed leadership in the context of implementing digitalisation change in educational institutions. Digitalisation processes in the contemporary education system are becoming a significant factor of institutional change, influencing not only the technological environment but also management, collaboration, communication, and employee engagement processes. The integration of digital technologies in educational institutions involves broader institutional changes related to professional learning, the distribution of responsibilities, the development of employee competencies, and collective action. In this context, distributed leadership gains increasing importance, as it is based on collegial collaboration, employee empowerment, and the distribution of responsibilities within the institution. Scientific literature emphasises that technological changes in educational institutions become more effective when leadership is not concentrated solely in formal managerial positions but is distributed among different members of the community. However, in practice, the implementation of digitalisation processes is often complicated by employees’ resistance to change, uneven levels of digital competence, communication problems, technological disruptions, and the overload of managerial responsibilities. Therefore, it is important to analyse the factors that strengthen or limit the expression of distributed leadership in the digitalisation process within educational institutions. The object of the research is distributed leadership in the context of implementing digitalisation change in educational institutions. The aim of the thesis is to reveal the challenges and success factors of distributed leadership in the context of implementing digitalisation change in educational institutions of Kupiškis district. The objectives of the research are: to analyse the theoretical concepts of distributed leadership and their links with digitalisation processes in educational institutions; to discuss the significance of institutional culture for the expression of distributed leadership in the context of digitalisation; to investigate how distributed leadership manifests itself in the digitalisation processes of educational institutions in Kupiškis district; and to identify the main challenges and success factors of distributed leadership in the context of digitalisation. A qualitative research strategy was applied in the study. Data were collected using a semi-structured written interview method. The participants of the study included heads of educational institutions and specialists from the Municipal Education and Sports Division of Kupiškis district. The participants were selected using purposive sampling in order to reveal both practical and strategic perspectives on the implementation of digitalisation processes. The collected data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The results of the study revealed that distributed leadership in the digitalisation process is most often expressed through collaboration, collegial decision-making, employee involvement, the distribution of responsibilities, and the activities of informal leaders. It was found that smoother implementation of digitalisation processes is strengthened by managerial support, a culture of collaboration, institutional learning, employee competence development, and clear coordination of activities. The study also revealed that the implementation of technological changes is limited by employees’ emotional fatigue, differences in competencies, technological disruptions, lack of financial resources, and resistance to change. From the perspective of municipal specialists, the most important aspects are strategic coordination and systemic collaboration, while the responses of educational institution leaders highlight the practical difficulties of implementing digitalisation in everyday activities. |
