Developing a framework for organisational social work leadership in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

The aim of this doctoral research project is to develop a New Zealand model of social work leadership in an organisational context. Because purposeful research connects with the professional community to which the research is directed (Patton, 2002), the project draws from the recognition in 2004 by the International Federation of Social Workers of management as a core purpose of the profession. Study objectives are to explore how registered social workers (RSW) in Aotearoa New Zealand conceptualise and describe organisational leadership. The study employs a constructionist, qualitative paradigm in which participants will engage in a sense-making exercise using semi-structured interviews. A descriptive/exploratory methodology will be used and data analysed thematically via NVivo software. Purposive sampling limits participants to RSW and acknowledges that the researcher interprets the meaning assigned by research participants. The study is informed by purposefully selected leadership literature strands, canvassing leadership in five diverse contexts: management; the historical New Zealand welfare context; international business and public sector leadership, including new public management (NPM); social work ethics, standards and identity; and indigenous leadership approaches and biological complexity thinking. The study treats management as dealing with things, leadership with people. The unique configuration of these strands constitutes the researcher’s thinking which underpins the entire project and from which new knowledge will emerge. The rationale for—and importance of—the project derives from the current gap in New Zealand social work leadership literature of an overarching model of organisational leadership.