Co-Producing Capability. The Effects of People Management Activities on Professional Capability of Teachers in Secondary Education.

Abstract

The functioning of teachers is not only important for daily practice, but even more important for the quality of education. Teachers need to deal with various demands, pressures and stakeholders. It seems important that teachers develop professional capability as a proactive coping strategy to deal with these demands. Despite the debated position of school leaders (managers) in public organizations, their role seems to be crucial for professional development. From their position school leaders can undertake different activities to support teachers in their day-to-day activities and in their professional development.To learn more about the professional capability of teachers and the effects that managers through their people management activities can have, the following central research question was formulated: What are the effects of people management activities on professional capability, and how can these effects be explained? This central research question was accompanied by both theoretical and empirical sub-questions. A mixed method study was conducted and the answer on the central research question showed how managers and teachers can co-produce professional capability.