An Analysis of the Socialization Experiences of British Satellite College Principals in China and Challenges They Face in Their Role

Abstract

Although there is much literature that explores the socialization of principals in national contexts and furthermore that has postulated on the demands that principals face in their roles, there is no literature that has explored the socialization principals experience in the complex field of international school leadership. The research reported in this article seeks to address this gap by analysing the processes and outcomes of principals’ socialization into their roles in British satellite colleges in China. Eleven principals were interviewed to explore the phenomena of their organizational socialization experience and were asked to reflect upon the challenges they face in leading their schools. With the emergence of the portfolio model of satellite colleges being tied together into a branded group with an intra-national locus of control, the research findings demonstrate principals experiencing institutional socialization tactics that are resulting in increasingly custodial outcomes. The research confirms the contemporary relevance, value and utility of organizational socialization theory as a robust conceptual framework to surface and analyse the complex phenomena of socializing principals into their roles.