The School Improvement Teamthe consideration of effectiveness, influence, and

weak ties

IPLI, April 2014

School leaders are challenged to develop teams designed to support school improvement efforts. The decision as to who is to be on a team will be

addressed, using a new concept to serve as a criterion – weak ties.

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effectiveness

-5

ability to influence others

Imagine rating each teacher in your

building on a scale like this

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effectiveness

-5

ability to influence others

In this example, 50 teachers have been rated. Who might seem the best

for the team?

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effectiveness

-5

ability to influence others

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Friendships have been identified using strong and

weak lines. Strong lines represent stronger

friendships.

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effectiveness

-5

ability to influence others

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AB

C

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EF

G

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K

L

M

N

13 teachers have been identified as

being “connected.”

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effectiveness

-5

ability to influence others

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C

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EF

G

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N

Drop the strong ties and keep the weak

ties…

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4

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2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

effectiveness

-5

ability to influence others

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

AB

C

D

EF

G

H

J

K

L

M

N

Would you have considered these two as the best to

recruit before considering the “weak ties” theory?