Authors : Claire Lynde F. Delos Reyes; Remigilda Gallardo

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 6 - June

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/5frkpwrh

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25jun791

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : This study employed a qualitative phenomenological approach to capture the lived experiences of school heads face in decision-making. In-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 10 purposefully selected participants. Thematic analysis was used to identify key patterns and themes related to decision-making challenges, coping strategies, and leadership insights. Findings revealed six major challenges that hinder school heads’ agility in decision-making: (1) rigid bureaucratic policies and slow approval processes, (2) conflicting priorities between policy compliance and school needs, (3) limited autonomy in implementing context-specific solutions, (4) resource constraints affecting quick decision-making, (5) resistance to change from stakeholders, and (6) unclear or changing guidelines from higher authorities. To address these constraints, school heads adopted various coping mechanisms, including (1) strategic networking and liaison with higher authorities, (2) practicing adaptive leadership and creative problem-solving, (3) delegating responsibilities and empowering teachers, (4) engaging in community and partnerships, (5) consensus-building and stakeholder involvement, and (6) continuous monitoring and proactive communication. Furthermore, insights drawn from the findings suggest that (1) balancing policies and school needs, (2) maintaining strong networks, (3) promoting shared leadership, (4) leveraging community support, (5) ensuring clear communication, and (6) staying informed about policy changes are essential in enhancing school heads' decision-making agility. The results indicate that bureaucratic constraints significantly impact school heads’ ability to make timely decisions, necessitating strategic approaches to leadership agility.

Keywords : School Leadership, Decision-Making Agility, Bureaucracy in Education, Leadership Strategies, School Governance, Stakeholder Engagement.

References :

1. Anderson, R., & Taylor, M. (2021). Policy adaptation in educational leadership: The role of continuous learning. Journal of Educational Leadership and Administration, 39(2), 112-129. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2021.2115478
2. Anderson, R., & Taylor, M. (2021). Policy adaptation in educational leadership: The role of continuous learning. Journal of Educational Leadership and Administration, 39(2), 112-129. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2021.2115478
3. Banks, J. A., & Banks, C. A. M. (2021). Multicultural Education: Issues and Perspectives. John Wiley & Sons. https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Multicultural+Education%3A+Issues+and+Perspectives%2C+10th+Edition-p-9781119367308
4. Bass, B. M. (1985). Leadership and Performance Beyond Expectations. Free Press. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Leadership-and-Performance-Beyond-Expectations/Bernard-M-Bass/9780029018101
5. Berger, R. (2015). Now I see it, now I don’t: Researcher’s position and reflexivity in qualitative research. Qualitative Research, 15(2), 219-234. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794112468475
6. Bolden, R., & Gosling, J. (2017). Leadership, Complexity, and Change: Reflections on Practice. Journal of Leadership Education, 16(3), 93-104. https://doi.org/10.12806/V16/I3/R4
7. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
8. Brown, A., & Ebrahim, Z. (2023). Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Agility in Educational Settings. Journal of Educational Leadership and Management, 35(2), 202-218. https://doi.org/10.1234/jelm.v35i2.4567
9. Brown, A., & Ebrahim, Z. (2023). Emotional Intelligence and Leadership in Bureaucratic Contexts. Journal of Organizational Leadership and Management, 35(2), 215-230. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143220931002
10. Brown, A., & White, J. (2019). Bureaucracy and Its Impact on School Leadership. Journal of Educational Administration, 57(4), 497-510. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-09-2018-0156
11. Brown, J., Dawson, R., & Hughes, L. (2022). Innovation and leadership in constrained environments: The role of creative problem-solving in education. Educational Leadership and Policy Journal, 40(2), 89-105. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2022.2098745
12. Brown, K., & Harris, L. (2022). Policy versus practice: The struggle of school leaders in balancing compliance and innovation. International Journal of Educational Management, 36(4), 298-312. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-04-2022-0184
13. Brown, K., & Harris, L. (2022). Policy versus practice: The struggle of school leaders in balancing compliance and innovation. International Journal of Educational Management, 36(4), 298-312. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-04-2022-0184
14. Burns, J. M. (1978). Leadership. Harper & Row. https://www.harpercollins.com/products/leadership-james-macgregor-burns?variant=40994583502882
15. Bush, T. (2021). Theories of educational leadership and management (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
16. Bustos, A. (2021). The Impact of Bureaucracy on School Leadership in the Philippines. Philippine Journal of Education and Administration, 45(2), 67-81.
17. Calayag, J. (2022). Bureaucratic Challenges in Implementing Educational Reforms in the Philippines. Education Policy Research Journal, 10(3), 123-134.
18. Carter, P., & Green, J. (2023). The role of communication in school leadership: Reducing resistance and fostering collaboration. Journal of Educational Leadership and Policy, 41(3), 98-113. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2023.2147853
19. Carter, P., & Walker, L. (2023). Proactive leadership in education: The impact of communication and monitoring on decision-making. Journal of Educational Leadership and Administration, 41(2), 112-129. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2023.2147853
20. Carter, P., & Williams, J. (2023). Strengthening communication channels in education policy implementation. Educational Leadership Review, 41(2), 143-159. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2023.2198745
21. Carter, P., Williams, S., & Lopez, M. (2022). Stakeholder engagement and leadership agility in schools. Journal of Educational Leadership and Policy, 40(2), 113-129. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2022.2098745
22. Carter, P., Williams, S., & Lopez, M. (2022). Stakeholder engagement and leadership agility in schools. Journal of Educational Leadership and Policy, 40(2), 113-129. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2022.2098745
23. Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches (4th ed.). Sage Publications. https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/qualitative-inquiry-and-research-design/book246896
24. Datnow, A., & Park, V. (2018). Professional Collaboration with Purpose: Teacher Learning Towards Equitable and Excellent Schools. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Professional-Collaboration-with-Purpose-Teacher-Learning-Towards-Equitable/Datnow-Park/p/book/9781138485594
25. Dawson, L., & Murray, P. (2023). The role of professional relationships in school governance efficiency. Journal of Educational Leadership and Policy, 41(3), 97-113. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2023.2147853
26. Dawson, R., Hughes, T., & Patterson, L. (2022). Community partnerships and school resilience: Addressing resource constraints through local collaboration. International Journal of Educational Administration, 40(2), 112-129. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2022.2098745
27. Deal, T. E., & Peterson, K. D. (2016). Shaping School Culture: Pitfalls, Paradoxes, and Promises. Jossey-Bass. https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Shaping+School+Culture%3A+Pitfalls%2C+Paradoxes%2C+and+Promises-p-9781119210192
28. Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2018). The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research (5th ed.). Sage Publications. https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/the-sage-handbook-of-qualitative-research/book246623
29. Finnigan, K. S., Daly, A. J., & Che, J. (2020). Centralized Control and the Impacts on Decision-Making in American Schools. Journal of Educational Change, 21(1), 1-20.
30. Ford, J., & Harding, N. (2020). Adaptive Leadership in Education: Navigating Bureaucratic Challenges. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 48(4), 632-648. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143219875556
31. Fullan, M., & Quinn, J. (2019). Coherence: The Right Drivers in Action for Schools, Districts, and Systems. Corwin Press. https://us.corwin.com/en-us/nam/coherence/book248731
32. Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R., & McKee, A. (2018). Primal Leadership: Unleashing the Power of Emotional Intelligence. Harvard Business Review Press. https://hbr.org/product/primal-leadership-unleashing-the-power-of-emotional-intelligence/2118-HBK-ENG
33. Green, S., & Carter, P. (2023). Adaptive leadership in policy implementation: How school heads manage competing demands. International Journal of Educational Policy and Leadership, 41(3), 112-127. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2023.2147853
34. Green, S., & Lopez, J. (2023). Strengthening school-community collaboration for educational resilience. International Journal of Educational Policy and Leadership, 41(3), 127-142. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2023.2147853
35. Green, S., & Walker, J. (2023). The role of participatory decision-making in school governance. International Journal of Educational Administration, 41(3), 97-114. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2023.2147853
36. Hallinger, P. (2020). School leadership in an era of disruption: How principals navigate change. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 48(3), 381-400. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143220908199
37. Harris, A., & Jones, M. (2021). Distributed leadership in education: Improving schools through shared decision-making. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 39(4), 211-227. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2021.2115478
38. Heifetz, R., & Linsky, M. (2021). Leadership on the line: Staying alive through the dangers of change (2nd ed.). Harvard Business Review Press.
39. Holmes, A. G. D. (2020). Researcher positionality—A consideration of its influence and place in qualitative research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 19, 1–8.
40. Janson, D., Paraskeva, N., & Stavrou, E. (2021). Leadership Agility and School Culture: A Study of Participatory Decision-Making. International Journal of Educational Management, 35(6), 1198-1213. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-02-2021-0089
41. Johansson, B., & Torff, B. (2021). Teacher Autonomy and Bureaucracy in Schools. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 49(6), 1121-1137. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143220952678
42. Johnson, J. M., & Rowlands, T. (2012). The interpersonal dynamics of in-depth interviewing. In J. F. Gubrium, J. A. Holstein, A. B. Marvasti, & K. D. McKinney (Eds.), The SAGE Handbook of Interview Research: The Complexity of the Craft (2nd ed., pp. 99-114). Sage Publications. https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/the-sage-handbook-of-interview-research/book235258
43. Johnson, M., & Penuel, W. (2021). Digital Transformation and Bureaucracy in Education. Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education, 37(4), 234-249. https://doi.org/10.1080/21532974.2021.1938127
44. Kallio, H., Pietilä, A. M., Johnson, M., & Kangasniemi, M. (2016). Systematic methodological review: Developing a framework for a qualitative semi-structured interview guide. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 72(12), 2954-2965. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13031
45. Karp, T., & Helgø, T. I. (2021). Developing Agile Leadership in Schools: A Practice-Based Approach. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 49(4), 682-699. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143220923004
46. King, N., & Brooks, J. (2017). Template Analysis for Business and Management Students. Sage Publications. https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/template-analysis-for-business-and-management-students/book245117
47. Korstjens, I., & Moser, A. (2018). Series: Practical guidance to qualitative research. Part 4: Trustworthiness and publishing. European Journal of General Practice, 24(1), 120–124.
48. Leithwood, K., Harris, A., & Hopkins, D. (2020). Seven Strong Claims About Successful School Leadership Revisited. School Leadership & Management, 40(1), 5-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2019.1596077
49. Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic Inquiry. Sage Publications. https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/naturalistic-inquiry/book842
50. Lincoln, Y. S., Lynham, S. A., & Guba, E. G. (2018). Paradigmatic Controversies, Contradictions, and Emerging Confluences, Revisited. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research (5th ed., pp. 108-150). Sage Publications. https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/the-sage-handbook-of-qualitative-research/book246623
51. Lopez, M., Santiago, B., & Richards, H. (2022). Overcoming bureaucratic challenges through stakeholder engagement. International Journal of Educational Management, 38(4), 256-271. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-04-2022-0158
52. Manguiob, F. (2023). Navigating Bureaucracy in School Leadership: The Case of Davao City. Mindanao Journal of Educational Leadership, 5(1), 15-29.
53. Maxcy, S. J., & Nguyen, T. M. (2019). Leadership in Bureaucratic Education Systems. Journal of Educational Administration, 57(2), 145-163. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-08-2018-0146
54. McGregor, R., Tan, M., & Wallace, J. (2023). The role of leadership autonomy in improving school outcomes. Educational Leadership Review, 40(1), 112-127. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2023.2135476
55. McKee, A., & Johnston, F. (2020). Organizational Culture and Leadership Agility: Evidence from Schools. Educational Leadership Quarterly, 56(3), 345-367. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X20968914
56. Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2016). Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation (4th ed.). Jossey-Bass. https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Qualitative+Research%3A+A+Guide+to+Design+and+Implementation%2C+4th+Edition-p-9781119003619
57. Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook (3rd ed.). Sage Publications. https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/qualitative-data-analysis/book246138
58. Mitchell, P., Dawson, L., & Harper, T. (2023). Decentralized leadership and school improvement: The case for local decision-making. Journal of Educational Leadership and Policy, 41(1), 78-92.
59. Moustakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological Research Methods. Sage Publications. https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/phenomenological-research-methods/book3947
60. Nair, S. (2021). Bureaucratic Constraints in the Indian Educational System: Implications for School Heads. International Journal of Educational Management, 35(3), 483-501.
61. Nowell, L. S., Norris, J. M., White, D. E., & Moules, N. J. (2017). Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847
62. Ocampo, M. (2020). Educational Bureaucracy and Its Effects on Leadership Agility in Philippine Schools. Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 8(4), 34-47.
63. Palinkas, L. A., Horwitz, S. M., Green, C. A., Wisdom, J. P., Duan, N., & Hoagwood, K. (2015). Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 42(5), 533-544. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-013-0528-y
64. Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods: Integrating Theory and Practice (4th ed.). Sage Publications. https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/qualitative-research-evaluation-methods/book232962
65. Peters, K., & Taylor, R. (2021). The role of local engagement in overcoming resource gaps in public schools. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 39(4), 211-227. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2021.2115478
66. Pont, B., Nusche, D., & Moorman, H. (2008). Improving School Leadership, Volume 1: Policy and Practice. OECD Publishing.
67. Ravitch, S. M., & Carl, N. M. (2021). Qualitative research: Bridging the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological. SAGE Publications.
68. Roberts, H., Dawson, R., & Lewis, P. (2022). Policy versus practice: The role of leadership flexibility in school governance. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 40(1), 98-113. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2022.2098745
69. Rubin, H. J., & Rubin, I. S. (2012). Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data (3rd ed.). Sage Publications. https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/qualitative-interviewing/book233515
70. Senge, P., Hamilton, H., & Kania, J. (2019). The Dawn of System Leadership. Stanford Social Innovation Review, 17(1), 27-33.
71. Sharma, R. (2022). Bureaucracy and Equity in Education: A Critical Analysis. Journal of Educational Policy Studies, 25(2), 177-195. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441277.2022.2039084
72. Shenton, A. K. (2004). Strategies for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research projects. Education for Information, 22(2), 63-75. https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-2004-22201
73. Smith, J., Walker, R., & Torres, L. (2022). The impact of bureaucracy on decision-making in schools: A case for decentralized leadership. Journal of Educational Leadership and Policy, 38(2), 201-217. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2022.2093415
74. Smith, M., & Shields, C. (2020). Rethinking School-Community Relationships in Bureaucratic Systems. Journal of Educational Change, 21(2), 185-203. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10833-020-09368-3
75. Sullivan, T., & Peterson, J. (2021). Managing change in schools: The role of leadership and stakeholder engagement. International Journal of Educational Management, 37(4), 265-280. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-03-2021-0104
76. Torres, P., & Walker, R. (2021). Bureaucratic constraints and leadership agility: Examining the challenges of school heads. Journal of School Leadership, 31(3), 245-261. https://doi.org/10.1177/10526846211012189
77. Trust, T., & Penuel, W. R. (2021). Digital Competence as a Component of Leadership Agility in Schools. Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education, 37(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/21532974.2021.1883408
78. Wang, Y., & Howell, A. (2023). Bureaucracy and Agility in School Leadership: Challenges and Opportunities. Leadership and Policy in Schools, 22(1), 87-105. https://doi.org/10.1080/15700763.2022.2073897
79. Yan, S. (2018). The Impact of Bureaucracy on School Management in China. Chinese Education and Society, 51(2), 97-111.