arbiter
JournalsAccount

Organisational identity: A critical clue to taking on and serving in the principalship

Stina Jerdborg

Educational Management Administration & Leadership2026https://doi.org/10.1177/17411432261429783article
AJG 2ABDC B
Weight
0.50

Abstract

It is well known that nations increasingly struggle to recruit and retain school leaders. A critical clue across different national contexts is the intentions and motivations that draw individuals to principalship. This study examines the engagement, actions, experiences and intentions of principals in Sweden, aiming to explore their identity work in relation to taking the step into principalship and remaining in the role. Although interest in principal identity has increased, studies of principals’ identity, including an organisational perspective, are scarce. This study collects empirical data from two distinct groups: novice and experienced principals, through a qualitative survey. The results show their motifs for taking on and remaining in the principalship include caring for school development in a certain organisational context, finding belonging and pursuing further personal and professional development. That is, self-identity and organisational identity are intertwined and reciprocal. This study highlights an evolving principal identity that thrives on commitment to a particular school rather than on self-identity as a leader. The study result has immediate implications for principal employers, discussing aspects of importance in recruitment of school leaders to build reasonable pathways.

Open via your library →

Cite this paper

https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/17411432261429783

Or copy a formatted citation

@article{stina2026,
  title        = {{Organisational identity: A critical clue to taking on and serving in the principalship}},
  author       = {Stina Jerdborg},
  journal      = {Educational Management Administration & Leadership},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/17411432261429783},
}

Paste directly into BibTeX, Zotero, or your reference manager.

Flag this paper

Organisational identity: A critical clue to taking on and serving in the principalship

Flags are reviewed by the Arbiter methodology team within 5 business days.

Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.