Developing a Digital Leadership Model for Malaysian School Leaders: A Needs Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62448/episteme.v2i2.679Keywords:
Digital Leadership, School Leaders, Digital, Education, Thematic AnalysisAbstract
The rapid advancement of technology has become a central topic of discussion, both globally and locally, significantly impacting various sectors, including communication, economics, healthcare, and, notably, education. Consequently, school leaders are increasingly required to be well-prepared and thoroughly equipped with necessary digital knowledge and expertise to navigate this advancement effectively. The adaptation of leadership styles to align with technological advancements is crucial for school leaders to remain effective in their roles. This study aimed to investigate the critical need for developing a digital leadership model tailored for school leaders in Malaysia. To achieve this objective, a qualitative research approach, particularly semi-structured interviews, was employed on study participants, who were experienced school leaders from various regions in Malaysia, to obtain rich, in-depth data. Thematic analysis was then applied to the collected data, with codes systematically assigned to identify and extract key themes and findings. The research identified three core themes: (i) competence in technology-related theories, (ii) a guideline for school leadership, and (iii) a guideline as a future reference for leaders. The study findings indicate a strong necessity for the development of a digital leadership framework, alongside important perspectives for educational stakeholders, thereby making a substantial contribution to the current body of literature on digital leadership within the Malaysian educational context.
References
Adhi Masri Yeop Johari, Muhammad Faizal A. Ghani, Norfariza Mohd Radzi, Amalina Ayub, and Maszuria A. Ghani. "Challenges of School Leaders’ Digital Leadership: An Initial Study in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia." Jurnal Akuntabilitas Manajemen Pendidikan 11, no. 1 (2023). https://doi.org/10.21831/jamp.v11i1.58443.
Anderson, Ronald E., and Sara Dexter. "School Technology Leadership: An Empirical Investigation of Prevalence and Effect." Educational Administration Quarterly 41, no. 1 (2005): 49-82.
Institut Aminuddin Baki. Standard Kompetensi Pemimpin Sekolah Malaysia 2.0. 2020.
Berliner, David C. "Expertise: The Wonders of Exemplary Performance." In Creating Powerful Thinking in Teachers and Students, 161-186. 1994.
Bogdan, Robert, and Sari Knopp Biklen. Qualitative Research: An Introduction to Theories and Methods. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon, 2007.
Braun, Virginia, and Victoria Clarke. "Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology." Qualitative Research in Psychology 3, no. 2 (2006): 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.
Collin, Jari, Kari Hiekkanen, Janne J. Korhonen, Marco Halen, Timo Itälä, and Mika Helenius. IT Leadership in Transition: The Impact of Digitalization on Finnish Organizations. Aalto University Publication Series Science + Technology 7/2015. Helsinki: Aalto University, 2015.
Contreras, Françoise, Elif Baykal, and Ghulam Abid. "E-Leadership and Teleworking in Times of COVID-19 and Beyond: What We Know and Where Do We Go." Frontiers in Psychology 11 (2020): 590271.
Gfrerer, Angelika E., Lisa Rademacher, and Sandra Dobler. "Digital Needs Diversity: Innovation and Digital Leadership from a Female Managers’ Perspective." In Digitalization: Approaches, Case Studies, and Tools for Strategy, Transformation and Implementation, 335-349. Springer, 2021.
Ivancevich, John M., Robert Konopaske, and Michael T. Matteson. "Introduction to Organizational Behavior." In Organizational Behavior and Management, 7th ed., 19-20. Tata McGraw-Hill, 2005.
Kouzes, James M., and Barry Z. Posner. The Leadership Challenge. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2007.
Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia. Pelan Pembangunan Pendidikan Malaysia 2013-2025. Putrajaya: Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia, 2013. https://www.moe.gov.my/menumedia/media-cetak/penerbitan/1813-pppm-2013-2025/file.
Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia. Dasar Pendidikan Digital. Kuala Lumpur: Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia, 2023.
Mat Rahimi Yusof, Mohd Faiz Mohd Yaakob, and Mohd Yusri Ibrahim. "Digital Leadership Among School Leaders in Malaysia." International Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering 8, no. 9 (2019): 1481-1485. https://doi.org/10.35940/ijitee.I8221.078919.
Merriam, Sharan B., and Elizabeth J. Tisdell. Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation. John Wiley & Sons, 2015.
Mohd Norakmar Omar, Siti Noor Ismail, and Abd Latif Kasim. "Karakter Kepimpinan Teknologi Pengetua dalam Pengintegrasian ICT di Sekolah Menengah." Jurnal Kepimpinan Pendidikan 7, no. 1 (2020): 28-46.
Nurul Salwani Abdullah and Suhaida Abdul Kadir. "Relationship Between Principals’ Digital Leadership and Teachers’ Digital Competency in Klang District Secondary Schools." Asian Journal of Vocational Education and Humanities 4, no. 2 (2023): 1-14.
Okeke, Ndidi Loretta, and H. I. Dike. "Head Teachers’ Technology Leadership Competencies and ICT Integration in Model Primary Schools in Rivers State." International Journal of Innovative Information Systems & Technology Research 7, no. 1 (2019): 14-21.
Quaquebeke, N. Van, and F. H. Gerpott. "The Now, New, and Next of Digital Leadership: How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Take Over and Change Leadership as We Know It." Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies 30, no. 3 (2023): 265-275. https://doi.org/10.1177/15480518231181731.
Quintão, C., P. Andrade, and F. Almeida. "How to Improve the Validity and Reliability of a Case Study Approach?" Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education 9, no. 2 (2020): 264-275.
Robbins, Stephen P., and Timothy A. Judge. Organizational Behavior. Pearson South Africa, 2009.
Robinson, R. S. "Purposive Sampling." In Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research, edited by A. C. Michalos, 5243-5245. Springer Netherlands, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_2337.
Sagbas, Murat, and F. A. Erdogan. "Digital Leadership: A Systematic Conceptual Literature Review." İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Dergisi 3, no. 1 (2022): 17-35.
Saldana, Johnny. "Researcher, Analyze Thyself." International Journal of Qualitative Methods 17, no. 1 (2018): 1609406918801717.
Schiuma, Giovanni, E. Schettini, F. Santarsiero, and D. Carlucci. "The Transformative Leadership Compass: Six Competencies for Digital Transformation Entrepreneurship." International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research (2021). https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-01-2021-0087.
Sheninger, Eric C. Digital Leadership: Changing Paradigms for Changing Times. Corwin Press, 2019.
Vijayakumar, P. B., Michael J. Morley, Noreen Heraty, Mark E. Mendenhall, and Joyce S. Osland. "Leadership in the Global Context: Bibliometric and Thematic Patterns of an Evolving Field." In Advances in Global Leadership, 31-72. Emerald Publishing Limited, 2018.
Wade, Michael, and Jialu Shan. "Covid-19 Has Accelerated Digital Transformation, but May Have Made It Harder Not Easier." MIS Quarterly Executive 19, no. 3 (2020): Article 7.
Yin, Robert K. Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods. Sage Publications, 2017.
Zhong, L. "Indicators of Digital Leadership in the Context of K-12 Education." Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE) 10, no. 1 (2017): 3. https://doi.org/10.18785/jetde.1001.03.
