Barry Smith - Learning about Learning

I have been working on my SQH unit 3 comparative study this weekend.  We have to compare an aspect of leadership and management in our school with that of another organisation.  I am fortunate to be visiting ELC Education department HQ, with the focus of my study being the climate for innovation and creativity within each organisation.  I think it will be interesting to compare the responses between the organisations, not least because Preston Lodge is technically a subset of John Muir house!

I have been reading about Goran Erkvall’s research  on the significant factors affecting the climate for innovation within an organisation.  This area of research is particularly relevant for Scottish schools at present in light of a Curriculum for Excellence and the changes we all face through the ongoing development and use of ICT in all aspects of education.  I am basing my comparative study questions on the ten Climatic factors said to be significant in establishing a climate of innovation. 

They are:

1. Challenge (How challenged, emotionally involved,and committed are employees to the work )
2. Freedom (How free is the staff to decide how to do their job?)
3. Idea time (Do employees have time to think things through before having to act?)
4. Dynamism (The eventfulness of life in the organisation)
5. Idea support (Are there resources to give new ideas a try?)
6. Trust and openness (Do people feel safe speaking their minds and offering different points of view?)
7. Playfulness and humour (How relaxed is the workplace-is it okay to have fun. )
8. Conflicts (To what degree do people engage in interpersonal conflict or ‘warfare?”)
9. Debates (To what degree do people engage in lively debates about the issues’)
10. Risk-taking (Is it okay to fail?)

Individual perceptions of the above come together to create the overall organisational climate, positive or negative, in relation to innovative practice, therefore creating at either extreme a totally dynamic or stagnant organisation. 

I’ve put a draft copy of my survey questions on a wiki.  It would be great to get some feedback from people on their appropriateness, wording etc.

I’ve started the big push towards the 2.5km swimathon, I had forgotten just how unfit I am. First 20 length swim under my belt, 10x breast stroke, 10x front crawl.  Oof. Very sorry state of affairs.  On the teetotal front it’s all go, another weekend passes without any close shaves bar my wife brandishing a glass of white wine gleefully at me!