Strategic leadership: an educational leader imperative

Strategy and strategic leadership have been overlooked largely in leadership literature. The study of strategic leadership is relatively new, although Hofer & Schendel rechristened business administration as strategic management in 1978. In recent times, the role of strategic leadership in schools has earned greater significance as a result of the international trends towards school-based management (SBM); reforms in school governance requiring school leaders to adopt business-like practices, including developing an organizational vision, strategic planning, marketing, listening to customers and observing market trends; greater autonomy and self governance altering the school leadership paradigm; and education systems recognising the need to have leaders trained in management. It is argued here that strategic leadership is not a new or different form of leadership, but rather, a leadership imperative for all school leaders regardless of their chosen leadership style.