| In this qualitative study five female and five male suburban school superintendents, and the 44 members of their administrative teams, were interviewed for the purpose of investigating how they conceptualize the administrative team. Data were analyzed in response to the four questions guiding this research: (1) How do superintendents conceptualize the administrative team? (2) How do team members, as identified by the superintendent, conceptualize the administrative team? (3) What is the role of trust in the conceptualization of the administrative team? (4) Are there differences between male and female administrators' conceptualization of the administrative team?;Several general findings emerged from this study. The majority of superintendents and team members expressed similar conceptualization regarding aspects of the administrative team's composition, organization, purposes, and values. Similarities expressed included the definition of "team;" interpretation of the team work process; perception of the team purpose being to serve as an advisory council which coordinates district functions; belief that trust, intelligence, respect for others, and competency are important team member characteristics.;Furthermore, whereas the superintendents and subordinates advocated subordinate team member involvement in the decision making process, they overwhelmingly perceived the superintendent as the ultimate decision maker.;Two major findings in this study relate, respectively, to the recruiting practices of superintendents and the importance of administrative trust as a team value. With regard to both issues, conceptual differences were expressed along gender lines.;The female superintendents appointed fewer women administrators to team positions than did their male counterparts. It was their perception that their communities would react negatively to them if they appointed several women to administrative team positions. Thus, they said their behavior was based upon external pressures rather than what has been stereotypically portrayed as resistance to competition from other women.;In identifying the most important team value, the majority of men stated trust, while the majority of women stated competency. Whereas, men perceive the need to establish trusting relationships, women perceived demonstrating competence through hard work as the way to prove themselves valued team members. These diverse conceptualizations serve as the source of conflict of values between men and women in the organization. |
