Analysis of a change of leadership at a Thai University

Abstract

© Common Ground, Alexander Nanni and Julien Hardy, All Rights Reserved. Educational systems around the world are in a state of flux. Technological, demographic, and economic factors contribute to a rapidly changing environment to which educational institutions must continuously adapt in order to stay relevant and to meet the needs of learners. This paper will present and analyze one particular change, a change of leadership in an academic division of a university in Thailand. After introducing the change, the problems surrounding the change, and the problems' significance, it analyzes the change using several theories of leadership and organizational change. Special attention is given to the cultural context of the change; the nature of the change, level of the change, and reaction to the change are also analyzed. Finally, the paper draws conclusions and makes recommendations based on the analysis. The findings of this paper are relevant to educational leaders who are engaged in the process of effecting change in their own institutions, particularly those leaders who are employed in an Asian context.