Team management: an alternative to acting directorship

Area of Science:

• Organizational behavior
• Management science
• Academic administration

Background:

• Sudden leadership vacancies, caused by illness, death, or resignation, pose significant risks to organizational stability.
• Effective administrative transition strategies are crucial for mitigating the impact of leadership voids.
• Traditional reliance on a single acting director may not be optimal in complex academic environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a team management administrative approach as a response to a sudden leadership void.
• To determine if a team-based leadership model can provide a viable alternative to a one-person acting director in an academic setting.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a team management administrative approach following a leadership vacancy.
• Evaluation of the team's performance and administrative transition over a one-year period.
• Comparative analysis of the team management approach versus a traditional one-person acting director model.

Main Results:

• The team management approach was successfully implemented and evaluated over one year.
• Documented evidence supports the viability of the team management model in an academic setting.
• The team-based approach demonstrated effectiveness in managing administrative transition during a leadership void.

Conclusions:

• Team management presents a practical and effective alternative to a single acting director for administrative transition in academic organizations.
• The study validates the team management administrative approach as a robust solution for addressing sudden leadership absence.
• Academic institutions can benefit from adopting team-based leadership models to ensure continuity and stability.