ABSTRACT
This study qualitatively explored the management innovation in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world of the 21st century secondary school heads. The participants of the study comprised of nine (9) high school principals from secondary schools in San Juan West Sub- Office, Division of Batangas. Purposive sampling was used to determine the participants. The study was conducted during the school year 2022-2023 with the goal of determining the management innovation of 21st century secondary school principals in the context of obtaining leadership skills in a VUCA world. For the purpose of this investigation, a phenomenological qualitative research design was utilized. The participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Colaizzi’s was used to qualitatively analyze the data transcripts. The results were: school heads use democratic leadership strategies and practices teachers’ collaboration emerged from school heads’ use of leadership strategies and practices in a VUCA environment; school principals manage innovative strategies using technology in improving teachers’ performance and communication manifested from school heads use of management innovation to achieve the necessary leadership competencies; school heads adopt transformational leadership and use trend and technology to achieve global competitiveness developed from school heads use of innovative strategies to achieve leadership competencies; and school heads implement AuRA (authority, responsibility, and accountability) and share vision with stakeholders in VUCA world materialized from how 21st secondary school principals implement management innovation. The researcher proposed a VUCA leadership framework that will provide school heads with VUCA leadership tool to navigate VUCA world with ease.
Keywords: VUCA, phenomenological qualitative research, management innovation, Colaizzi, stakeholders
INTRODUCTION
Our environment is constantly changing. In these times, we must confront several obstacles. The school is one of the institutions hardest hit by this crisis. To adapt to the new educational system, numerous adjustments must be made, especially by school principals.
Every facet of human activity, including education, is impacted by VUCA. Information quantity and quality, which increase unstable changes in a globalized and digitalized society, can also be used to characterize VUCA. To prepare the coming generations of learners for living and working in a VUCA-driven world, it is important to investigate many areas of their intellectual development. It is also important to investigate various VUCA responses and choose the one that is most appropriate for a VUCA-driven informational environment, (Panthalookaran,2022).
Leadership abilities are crucial in their respective schools. Moreover, as per DepEd no. 2 s. 2015, leadership competencies such as leading people, people management performance and people development are the most crucial workplace requirements. They must have a growth mindset and cultivate resilience and personal well-being, just as we all do when faced with adversity. To lead change in a new environment, one must be able to communicate and develop a vision for a robust and efficient method of managing all aspects of the school.
The management style of team leaders is essential to the success of teamwork, according to Al-Malki & Wang Juan (2018), wherein "the process of managing teams and ensuring their effectiveness requires the presence of a leader who can motivate and provide a vision for their subordinates." Leaders are believed to set intelligent goals for colleagues and give them the authority they need to achieve organizational objectives.
Living in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world, educators and school administrators will continue to face obstacles and difficulties in their work. The schools that are going to be the most successful are going to embrace the disruption and search for innovative ways to provide students with a quality education.
When it comes to leadership, the ability to anticipate the environment and respond appropriately to any potential problems is of the utmost importance. To adapt to a world that is constantly changing, management innovation skills and experiences are in high demand. Being eager to learn new things is an excellent trait for leaders to possess, as it allows them to enhance their organizational management skills. This will aid in the development of a new set of skills to help overcome future obstacles. The level of creativity and skill development is directly proportional to their management ability. For leaders to acquire strategic insights that are beneficial to their organizations, they must be able to adapt successfully to the changing environment. Leaders in the VUCA world of the twenty-first century must be able to acquire the necessary leadership competencies. If a leader possesses the required management innovation skills, he or she will be able to thrive in this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environment.
see PDF attachment for more information