The Debate on Leadership in Higher Education Organizations: throwing light on Management at “Education Companies”

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this article is to contribute to the building of management knowledge in higher education organizations as well as to evaluate its effectiveness in the light of the leadership approach as a catalyst element for institutional and strategic management results. The concept of management in the sphere of education is quite recent (Laranja, 2004; Souza, 2005). Such a late concern reflects the predominance of the thought on education management which claims that any person is able to manage ‘education companies’ (Catani & Giglioli, 2004). However, a need to train leaders for such a purpose is widely verified. Aiming to accomplish the purpose of this research, a literature review was undertaken using national and international works. Then an analysis and a development of the theme were conducted, under the perspective that higher education organizations need to be analyzed from the standpoint of management and in an interdisciplinary way. The leaderships of ‘education companies’ have occupied positions that involve actions not only in the sphere of teaching, but also of management, finance, interrelations, and towards the surrounding communities as well. The relevance of this study lies in the systematization of the knowledge found in the literature, and in providing a means of stimulating reflection, and further action, on the existent strategies in higher education organizations and on the manager’s role as central in the organization. Keywords: Leadership, Strategy, Higher Education Organizations, Education Management.