Factors affecting principals’ readiness to implement policies with reference to the policy on the South African standard for principals

Abstract

This article explores factors affecting principals' readiness to creatively implement policies, focusing on the policy on the South African Standard for Principalship. Policy implementation globally and in South Africa has faced an extraordinary frequency of failure. This occurs due to organizations' failure to measure readiness in employees, resulting in a lack of information about processes and strategies for implementing the policies. This article focuses on the perceptions of principals regarding factors that affect their readiness to creatively implement policies using a qualitative method. Information was gathered through semi-structured in-depth interviews. The information was collected on a small sample of fifteen principals from schools in Mopani East district, Limpopo province, and was analysed through qualitative inductive analysis. The study revealed that principals' readiness to implement policies is affected by motivating factors. The study recommends that the Department of Education focus on enhancing the motivation of principals, which can result in readiness to implement, and measure the readiness of principals to implement policies in advance of the formal operation. 

Keywords: {'name': 'principals, policy implementation, readiness to implement, motivating factors, policy on the South African standard for principalship'}

Authors & affiliations

Mzamani Eliah Nkuna
University of Pretoria

Livhuwani Gladys Nkondo
University of Venda

Decorate Mathebula
University of Venda

Deposited references

Supplied references, not a list of publications citing this article.

DOI: 10.1108/JOCM-04-2023-0136

DOI: 10.3389/frma.2025.1504937

Ahmad, N., Alias, F. A., & Abdul Razak, N. A. (2023). Understanding population and sample in research: Key concepts for valid conclusions. SIGCS. https://appspenang.uitm.edu.my/sigcs/

DOI: 10.1080/23311975.2023.2270813

DOI: 10.34190/ecie.19.1.2785

DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13090839

Dalkıran, A. (2024). Guidelines for scientific research and publication ethics. TransportTech. https://transporttech.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Guidelines-for-Scientific-Research-and-Publication-Ethics-for-TransportTech.pdf

DOI: 10.1080/01900692.2021.1878219

DOI: 10.37253/jjr.v24i2.7280

DOI: 10.4108/eai.15-9-2021.2315250

Enders, C. K. (2022). Applied missing data analysis (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

DOI: 10.4236/oalib.1108868

DOI: 10.52970/grhrm.v5i1.656

DOI: 10.1111/psj.12381

DOI: 10.1086/428419

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-94580-0

DOI: 10.58915/ijbt.v13i3.263

DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2023.1099415

DOI: 10.3389/fbuil.2022.1038563

DOI: 10.31289/jap.v13i2.9761

Johnsson, M., & Lepa, R. (2024). Solving environmental challenges through open innovation: Challenges and experiences. In ISPIM Innovation Symposium 2024 (pp. 1–18). International Society for Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM).

DOI: 10.21093/di.v22i1.3679

DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1302756

Karunarathna, I., Gunasena, P., Hapuarachchi, T., & Gunathilake, S. (2024). The crucial role of data collection in research: Techniques, challenges, and best practices. Uva Clinical Research, 1–24.

DOI: 10.1186/s12939-022-01738-w

DOI: 10.1177/16094069221090063

DOI: 10.1080/13501763.2022.2158208

DOI: 10.1037/cou0000523

DOI: 10.1016/j.indmarman.2020.04.012

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052746

DOI: 10.1108/JAMR-02-2023-0032

DOI: 10.23887/jpiundiksha.v13i1.70599

DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2023.102207

DOI: 10.1177/22779779221134659

DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2023.2295151