| This project studies the phenomenon of administrative/professional job sharing and clarifies implications for educational administration. Nine cases of such job sharing both inside and outside the field of educational administration are studied. The specific objectives of the study are to examine the conditions that facilitate or impede job sharing, the components of administration that can or cannot be shared, the effects of job sharing on how work is done, the effects of job sharing on the individual job sharers and on the organizations for which they work, and the feasibility of job sharing for educational administration. By means of interviews, questionnaires, observations and documents, data are collected from several stakeholders (e.g. job sharers, supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates) in each case. An examination of descriptive case portraits and a cross case analysis indicates that eight of the nine cases studied were considered to be highly successful for various reasons. The relationship of the data to five areas related to educational administration (women in educational administration, work-family conflict and work redesign, job sharing as a work option, restructuring schools, and leadership) is discussed.;The results of this study lend strong support to the phenomenon of administrative/professional job sharing, both inside and outside the field of education, as a helpful strategy for achieving a balance between working and non-working aspects of living. Conditions for job sharing and many consequences of job sharing (both benefits and risks) to organizations and to individuals are also identified. A model for job sharing based on the results of the study is presented, and a commentary on the feasibility of job sharing in educational administration is provided. Suggestions for further research and implications for educational administration conclude the study. |
