The DOI matches its Crossref record; 37 of the 37 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Variabilities and Dualities in Distributed Leadership: Findings from a Systematic Literature Review
Abstract
This article examines the concept of distributed leadership, drawing from a systematic review of relevant literature commissioned by the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) and jointly funded by NCSL and the Open University’s Centre for Educational Policy, Leadership and Lifelong Learning (CEPoLL). The concept attracts a range of meanings and is associated with a variety of practices, with varying implications for organizational processes and values. The article highlights key variables that emerged from the literature review. It then elaborates one of the emergent themes—the distinction between structure and agency—and seeks to utilize this further as a means of illuminating the concept and practice of distributed leadership. In conclusion, areas for future research are identified.
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In the citing paper
“Whilst DL has been associated with a variety of meanings and practice (Woods et al., 2004), it views leadership not through an individual leader's attributes and behaviours, but instead as aggregated between some, many, or indeed, all members of a group or organisation (Gronn, 2002; Woods et al., 2004; Bolden, 2011) with individuals leading when and where they have expertise (Liang and Sandmann, 2”
From Navigating from ‘heroic’ leadership to a distributed leadership model in a virtual community of practice (2025) · cites this paper as Woods et al., 2004
In the citing paper
“Woods et al. (2004) have suggested that the nature of action ownership and the development of communities of practice (Annala and Mäkinen 2016; Arthur 2016; Tummons 2014) create conditions for enhanced multiple means of action, a core component of the UDL framework (cf. the inclusion of communities of practice as one of UDL's top ten tips for assessment [CAST 2015]).”
From A typology for a social justice approach to assessment: learning from universal design and culturally sustaining pedagogy (2019) · cites this paper as Woods et al. (2004)
Citations
Cites
Archer, M. S. (1995) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511557675 · Cited by 4,347
Realist social theory the morphogenetic approach
Archer, M. S. (1995) · Cited by 2,938
Distributed leadership as a unit of analysis
Gronn, P. (2002) · The Leadership Quarterly · doi:10.1016/s1048-9843(02)00120-0 · Cited by 2,059
Archer, M. S. (2000) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511488733 · Cited by 1,710
Investigating School Leadership Practice: A Distributed Perspective
Spillane, J. P., Halverson, R., & Diamond, J. B. (2001) · Educational Researcher · doi:10.3102/0013189x030003023 · Cited by 1,690
Realist social theory: List of figures
Archer, M. S. (1995) · Cited by 1,663
Being Human: The Problem of Agency
Himmelstrand, U., & Archer, M. S. (2002) · Contemporary Sociology A Journal of Reviews · doi:10.2307/3089723 · Cited by 1,290
Gronn, P. (2000) · Educational Management & Administration · doi:10.1177/0263211x000283006 · Cited by 1,055
International Handbook of Educational Leadership and Administration
(1996) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-009-1573-2 · Cited by 622
Gronn, P. (2002) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-010-0375-9_23 · Cited by 446
Research works printed but not linked: 9
- Argyris, C., 1978, Organizational Learning in Action: A Theory in Action Perspective
- Bennett, N., 2003, Desk Study Review of Distributed Leadership
- Gold, A., 2002, Educational Management & Administration, 31, 127
- 10.1080/13603120118390 · DOI
- Harris, A., International Congress on School Effectiveness and Improvement
- Nias, J., 1989, Staff Relationships in the Primary School
- O’Neill, B., 2002, Distributive Leadership: Meaning Practice
- Trafford, B., 2003, School Councils, School Democracy, School Improvement: What, Why, How
- Wallace, M., 1994, Inside the SMT
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 301–308 of 308
Presenting a participatory leadership model based on psychological concepts in the education system
Asadabadi, N. Z., Yazdakhasi, A., & Akbari, A. (2024) · Journal of Psychological Science · doi:10.61186/jps.23.140.237
Impact of Distributed Leadership on Project Outcomes within Organisations
Shah, S. R., & Matsimbe, E. (2025) · WSEAS TRANSACTIONS ON BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS · doi:10.37394/23207.2025.22.38
Exploring Boundary-Spanning in Teacher Education
Trigo, M., Siry, C., & Frentz, T. (2024) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/979-8-88730-858-620251010
Johnson, M. I., Snyder, K., & Sten, L. (2026) · Frontiers in Education · doi:10.3389/feduc.2026.1747477
(2026) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/979-8-3373-8272-2.ch011
Holloway, J., Kerr, J., & Zacharakis, J. (2019) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-64113-646-420251011
Clark, L. J., Braley, E., & Bookman, J. (2022) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/979-8-88730-047-420251029
Servant leadership in early childhood education : a multi-site case study
Robertson, K. (2012) · Unitec Research Bank (Unitec Institute of Technology)
Metadata
- Authors
- Woods, P. A., Bennett, N., Harvey, J. A., & Wise, C.
- Affiliations
- University of the West of England (GB)
- The Open University (GB)
- University of Gloucestershire (GB)
- Venue
- Educational Management Administration & Leadership
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2004-10
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 439-457
- ISSN
- 1741-1432 (ISSN-L)
- 1741-1440
- OpenAlex
- W2117305464
- Cited by
- 307
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 39.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Educational Management Administration & Leadership (publishedVersion)
- Research Repository (University of Gloucestershire) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Educational Leadership and Practices
- Social Sciences › Education › Teacher Education and Leadership Studies
- Social Sciences › Education › School Leadership and Teacher Performance
- Keywords
- distributed leadership, school leadership, structure and agency, leadership theory, organizational processes, leadership practices
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