Loose and tight coupling in educational organizations – an integrative literature review

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review and synthesize the attributes of loose and tight coupling in educational organizations. In addition, it is aimed to determine whether this phenomenon has value and strategies to offer for the current educational administration and research.

Design/methodology/approach

Integrative literature review and content analysis, assisted by Atlas.ti software, were used as the methods of this paper. Review data included 32 articles from peer reviewed journals.

Findings

Conceptual framework of continuum of organizational couplings in educational organizations was generated. Elements of the framework include the features of coupling concepts within the continuum, components of couplings, contributory types of organizational couplings and the elements of leadership and change process with emerging strategies, as well as the element of cultural context. In this paper, elements of continuum of couplings and leadership will be emphasized.

Practical implications

Findings have practical implications for the management and leadership in educational organizations, and for the researchers in the field for future research purposes.

Social implications

Findings have social implications for both teaching staff and administration in educational organizations, by highlighting the attributes of loose and tight coupling, and their connections with leadership, change process and cultural context.

Originality/value

The paper presents a distinctive synopsis of the educational administration literature, in the context of loose and tight coupling, with the time span of four decades.

Citation

Hautala, T., Helander, J. and Korhonen, V. (2018), "Loose and tight coupling in educational organizations – an integrative literature review", Journal of Educational Administration, Vol. 56 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-03-2017-0027