Leadership Skills for Medical Superintendents

This assignment investigates the managerial and leadership competencies of medical superintendents operating within Zimbabwe's public healthcare system. It delves into their skills, drawing upon qualitative data from interviews with these superintendents. The analysis aims to shed light on the specific abilities and qualities necessary for effective leadership in this challenging environment.

Running head: VETERAN AND NOVICE SUPERINTENDENTS
District Leadership: Veteran Superintendents’ Perceptions of Professional Skills Needed By
Novice Superintendents
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
District leadership......................................................................................................................2
Novice superintendents as effective district leaders..................................................................3
Two types of research methods..................................................................................................4
Qualitative approach:.................................................................................................................5
Strengths.................................................................................................................................5
Weaknesses............................................................................................................................6
Ethical issues..........................................................................................................................6
Quantitative approach:...............................................................................................................7
Strengths.................................................................................................................................7
Weaknesses............................................................................................................................7
Ethical issues..........................................................................................................................8
Compare and contrast between two approaches........................................................................8
Selection of best research method for the chosen topic.............................................................9
Justifying the selection...........................................................................................................9
Conclusion................................................................................................................................10
References................................................................................................................................12

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Introduction
District leadership is a good platform to explore the hidden skills in novice
superintendents. Novice superintendents need firm support of the academic guidelines as well
as the supports from the veteran superintendents. This is a very important platform where
novice superintendents can prosper their career. The prospering would come with the help of
professional development at the educational institutions. This is indeed very important for a
bright future of students. Skilful teachers can make difference in the educational system and
can also bring in the expected outcomes, which would not only benefit the tutors or the
students but this would also benefit the institution and its representative country (Honig,
2012). The research topic, which the researcher has selected, is on the novice superintendents
who need career development when they are into educational institution. The research has
selected Capella University in USA as the organisation for this assignment. The main purpose
of this assignment is to understand the two research methods that are used for different
research works such as qualitative and quantitative. Additionally, the research work would
also analyse the differences between the two research methods. Henceforth, this would
recommend the process to select the one possible research method for the chosen research
topic.
District leadership
District leadership can be referred to a process that contains different policies,
practices led by the different school or institutional leaders. This is very important and is
highly required to influence the instruction quality within the classroom. Leadership is of
various kinds such as Transformational, Situational and Constructivist. In this context,
constructivist leadership would be highly required. A constructivist leader builds up the heap
of knowledge by sharing their gained experiences to their predecessor. The novice

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superintendents at their early age at the workplace need only such assistance. Moreover, such
assistance would not only enhance their capability, as superintendent but this would also
allow them feel comfortable with the new job and the senior staffs. An improved instruction
quality at the classroom would improve the educational standard in the respective institution.
This would also help in achieve the vision, which a particular district has set with the
institution. Different districts have different vision; however, all such institutions are more or
less similar in few objectives such as raising the educational standard of their institution,
producing quality students, effective administration of institution, impactful teacher
evaluation programs etc. These all vision and much more than that are only possible if it is
taken care with utmost leadership in institutions. The development of the required leadership
can be done in numerous ways of which guidance provided by the veteran superintendents is
of unique importance. The development however can be done in numerous ways, which
includes the following (Hollingworth, 2012):
 Improving the selection process to filter the aspirants
 Design a framework to follow to develop the leadership quality in novice superintends
 Develop the capacity of principal in supervisor role to influence the training quality
imparted to the novice superintendent
 Developing a collaborative working atmosphere within the office premise
 Influence the district superintendent quality in the inspiration of regional networks
Novice superintendents as effective district leaders
Novice superintendents as effective leaders can bring changes in the classroom
environment. They have interest in multiple domains such as finance, school law, research,
networking, decision-making and personal administration (Chonzi & Sibanda, 2012). Schools
available in a particular district require an appropriate administration, so that, development

4VETERAN AND NOVICE SUPERINTENDENTS
programs can be conducted at the school premises. Such administration would support all the
district schools with all the required resources in order to facilitate the development of
students and the progress of educational standard in al the district level schools. However,
such a prestigious position is often not explored to varied range of opportunities, which can
be made available with some serious concerns. Veteran superintendents who are about to
retire can well use their experiences to guide and nurture the development of newly hired
novice superintendents. Novice superintendents are generally low in confident with their new
job. They find this difficult to assimilate with the veterans. This can be because the working
environment is new to them and they are finding this uncomfortable to attach with the
veterans who have high experiences behind them. In such situations, it becomes an utmost
responsibility for the veterans that they use their experiences to a right cause. Their guidance
to the newly hired novice superintendents would make them feel comfortable and would also
help in adjusting with the new job. Novice superintendents in the contemporary age are well
versed with the knowledge of technology. They have a wide range of interest in different
kinds of service domains such as law, personal administration etc. Veteran superintendents
can help the novice superintendents in exploring their different skills, which can be fruitful
for all the district level schools. Nevertheless, Millennials or novice superintendents love to
innovate while being in their position, which is good to bring out important outcomes
particularly beneficial for the educational standard of all the district level school (Miner,
2017).
Two types of research methods
There are two types of research method, which are mostly used in a research work
qualitative and quantitative. Both the research methods have their own importance and have
their own area of operation. It is also very critical for the researcher that it select the best

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research method to reach to the research objectives. Qualitative research method is effective
in such cases where much in depth findings are required to justify the research objectives and
to conduct this within the line of the set research objectives. Additionally, it is also done in
those cases where respondents are very few (Brinkmann, 2014). On contrary to this,
quantitative research method is used in such cases where respondents are huge. This is also
done when an in depth findings are less required (Hussein, 2015). Qualitative research
method for example would contain interviews with the selected number of designated
personnel such as mangers of an organisation, head of the department of a school or
university etc. The interview with such people would be in an open-ended format, which
means that participants are free to answer the questions according to their needs (Brinkmann,
2014). On contrary to this, quantitative research method would include a long list of close-
ended questionnaire. Such questionnaire would have multiple options to select from.
Respondents would need to select any one option, which according to them is most feasible
to the asked questions (Hussein, 2015).
Qualitative approach:
Strengths
Both qualitative and quantitative research methods have certain strengths in them. At
the same time, both the processes have weaknesses in them as well. Qualitative approach on
the same note has set of strengths in it. Probability to gather a wide range of information is
higher with the qualitative research method. This includes a structured interview, which is
asked from managerial position staffs such as managers at some organisation, principal in
schools or veteran superintendents at the district levels. This is indeed a tougher job for the
researcher to get some time from such designated people. However, it is one of the most
valuable resources of primary research, which provides ample of important information.

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Such information could be directive towards the ultimate objective of the research work.
They are highly experienced people and they have high observational skills as well.
Moreover, they might supply many such perspectives, which might not have been assumed
prior to the research work.
Weaknesses
Qualitative research method has its some limitations as well. Managerial staffs
participating in such structured interviews might be biased towards the organisational values.
They might try to save the organisational values, which according to them could be in danger
if they share some private matter in the interview. In attempt to fulfil such thoughts, they
might even provide false information, which can prove to be harmful for the research work.
Such information might cause the research work to deviate from its objectives. Deviation is a
threatening stage, which would hamper the research work. Perspective is another important
element, which has its high influence in deriving the findings from the research. Managerial
staffs such as veteran superintendents might have a perspective, which is conflicting in nature
with the set research objectives. Moreover, it is very difficult to get the utmost transparency
and committed responses from the managerial staffs (Trotter, 2012).
Ethical issues
There can be some ethical issues as well while conducting the interview with the
selected respondents. The responses of the participants cannot be manipulated, which means
it would be presented in a way as it is being answered. This is also not safe because
respondents might not give transparent responses, which would cause the research objectives.
On contrary to this, they might be transparent but have supplied unexpected responses, which
is also harmful for the set research objectives. Either of the case is very much possible with
the structured interview with the selected respondents. The other ethicality can be the
involvement of the selected respondents, which would depend on the respondent’s wish.

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They might discontinue with the interview at anytime. Moreover, this is not fruitful for the
research work (Englander, 2012).
Quantitative approach:
Strengths
Quantitative approach on the other hand contains a questionnaire survey that targets a
specific population. Unlike qualitative approach, it has large numbers of respondent, which
means it would supply a wide range of varied responses that might help in shape the research
work. Questionnaire survey is open-ended in nature, which has large number of questions.
Questions are of multiple choices in nature, which would provide multiple options to select
from. Participants in such survey can answer according to their thoughts on the subject topic.
One of the most important parts of such survey is the participation of a large population,
which would help in find variations in thoughts and would also help in calculate the
inclination of majority towards a particular point. However, it adds up pressure to the
researcher, as the researcher would be required to do an extensive analysis of a large data
(Frels & Onwuegbuzie, 2013).
Weaknesses
The research method has few limitations as well. Respondents in the survey might
understand the seriousness attached to the questionnaire. To them it could be a routine work;
however, for the researcher it is much more than that. The research is conducting the research
work to reach to a conclusion, which is up in the line with the set research objectives.
Moreover, this would also provide some useful findings, which would help in putting more
lights on the chosen research topic. Additionally, response might not be accurate as well as
the participants might not be wholly committed to the survey work. In such situation, it
becomes extremely difficult to justify whether the responses are genuine. This might also

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create trouble in analysing the data. The findings might also be of a dissimilar nature, which
could hamper the perspectives of the researcher. Moreover, this could also cause the research
work to deviate from its actual determined path (Anderson & Shattuck, 2012).
Ethical issues
Some ethical issues are also required to maintain while conducting a questionnaire
survey. Participants should be given intimation on basic requirements to qualify for the
survey. Basic qualification requirements would include but are not limited to such as age,
educational standard. Respondents would also be intimated prior to participate in the online
survey process that they can leave the survey at any point in time. They would never be
forced to participate in the survey. The participation would also start with their willingness to
respond to such surveys (Hoe & Hoare, 2012).
Compare and contrast between two approaches
Both qualitative and quantitative approaches have their own benefits and limitations.
Qualitative approach is useful in cases where the perspectives of managers are required over
a particular issue. On the other hand, quantitative research method would be highly useful to
identify the customer satisfaction level with a particular product or service of an organisation.
This is because managers would generally speak about the pros of their companies. Very few
dare to accept the negativity in their organisations. These two examples do simply provide
information, which tells that the selection of an appropriate research method would depend
on the selected research topic. If the selected research topic were on the behavioural issues of
mangers at the workplace then this would be advisable to go with qualitative approach. A
structured interview in such case would help the researcher to get the most accurate data. On
the other hand, if the research topic were on the “factors behind the Millennial’s attraction for

9VETERAN AND NOVICE SUPERINTENDENTS
social activities” then a questionnaire survey would justify the research work (Allwood,
2012).
Selection of best research method for the chosen topic
The best research method for the selected research work, which is on the topic
“District Leadership: Veteran Superintendents’ Perceptions of Professional Skills Needed By
Novice Superintendents”, would be the Qualitative research method.
Justifying the selection
The qualitative approach for the research work is taken because the research topic is
oriented with the perspectives of the veteran superintendents (Hyett, Kenny & Dickson-Swift,
2014). The research is aimed to find the perspectives of veteran super indents on the district
leadership. They have been selected for the selected research work because they would
provide some useful information regarding their thoughts on implementing the district
leadership qualities in novice superintendent. Qualitative approach is also selected because
this would provide a wide range of data, which is needed to understand the exact scenario
surrounding the chosen research work (Sargeant, 2012). An improvement is required on a
district level to bring the leadership quality in novice district superintendent. The leadership
quality is missing at the district level, which is also influencing the environmental outcomes
in schools. This is indeed very much required to construct a framework, which could incept a
new change at the district level administration, so that, the instructional level in the classroom
could be improved (Cajaiba-Santana, 2014). Additionally, participation of veteran
superintendents in encouraging the novice superintendents is of utmost urgency. They are
required to provide a comfortable working environment to the novice superintendents in
order to allow them time to accustom with the working environment. Novice candidates have
a wide range of unlike skills in them (Lehman, Boyland & Sriver, 2014). They just need an

10VETERAN AND NOVICE SUPERINTENDENTS
environment where they could feel freely and could explore the area of opportunities for
them. At the district level, there is an urgent requirement of mutual work between the novice
and the veteran superintendents. Mutual working would bring the required changes at the
administration level, which would then influence the performance of district schools
(Hanleybrown, Kania & Kramer, 2012). A competitive administration at the district level
would then give way to different schools to prosper and get their desired vision fulfilled (De
Angelis, 2013). The purpose of the scheduled research work could only be fulfilled if it has
sufficient data on the required thing such as the involvement level of veteran superintendent
in supporting the novice superintendents, working environment at the administration level,
reform works at the educational institution etc. Qualitative research method would help to
develop some necessary findings, which is highly needed to bring in some changes at the
institutional level. Such important findings would be built upon the derived responses of the
participating veteran superintendents. The varied responses of the different participating
veteran superintendents would supply a lot of information, which would help in reaching to a
conclusion (Baker, Edwards & Doidge, 2012). Moreover, the conclusive part would provide
some important information, which may give place to some reform works in this regard.
Conclusion
District leadership is highly required to improve the educational system at the school
level. However, the improvement can only be produced if it has supports of veteran
superintendent. Veteran superintendents should act like a constructivist leader and share their
gained experiences with the novice leaders. Novice superintendents have lots of passion for
their kinds of workplace nature. They are also very much addicted to technologies. However,
they are often loosely connected to the vision of the organisation. This is because they tend to
be in comfortable zone. Additionally, novice superintendents are also found to have less

11VETERAN AND NOVICE SUPERINTENDENTS
dedication for hard works. They believe in working smartly than doing hard works. On
contrary to this, veteran superintendents have their less connectivity to the technologies. They
believe in doing hard works. These are some very few examples that show a huge
generational gap in between the veteran and the novice superintendents. In such
circumstances, it is necessary that both veteran and novice superintendents get into a bond of
common sharing. This would facilitate knowledge sharing and would also stabilise the
working environment where both veteran and novice would work to their potential. An
exchange of knowledge with the newly hired superintendents is of utmost importance to
incept the leadership quality in him or her. Novice superintendents have high attachments to a
friendly working atmosphere. When they enter into such a big role and find that the
workplace nature is not of their match, they start feeling disconnected with the organisation
and with the other employees. A flourishing future of district level schools would only
prosper if it has quality leaders in the form of superintendents those who take care of the
administrative works. Such administration is a combination of both the veteran and the
novice superintendents. It is therefore highly important that both the novice and the veteran
superintendents are working as a collective unit on a shared purpose. The exchange of
different ideas and the implementation of such ideas without any conflict at the workplace
would improve the leadership quality of the district level administration. Henceforth, this
would also improve the educational quality in the different district level schools.

12VETERAN AND NOVICE SUPERINTENDENTS
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