Layla Zhang

How did the authors of the articles conceptualize evidence-based leadership?

The significance of “best practices” and “lessons learned” is emphasized in the article of Patton (2001). Although he prefers to use “better practices” instead of “best practices”, “best practices” are still the most popular form of knowledge and act as the principles to guide practice. On the other hand, the number of supporting evidence and supporting sources determines whether a “lesson learned” is meaningful. Clearly, the more rigorous and the greater number of the evidence, the more confidence one has in the lessons learned.

Moreover, Trybus (2007) states that WWC established by the US Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences will transform education into an evidence-based field with standards of scientifically based research. She also mentions that a sound decision making needs the equilibrium of application and utilization of evidence-based research and professional wisdom.

Walshe and Rundall (2001) formally introduce the concept of evidence-based practice. Firstly, the authors illustrate how evidence-based practice is applied to health care. The gap between research and clinical practice in health care generated three problems, whereas evidence-based practice has greatly improved this situation. Then, the evidence-based practice is used in the managerial domain. In order to make the best use of the evidence-based practice, the managerial culture and the preference of qualitative research of managers should both be taken into account. Also, the differences between managers and clinicians of making decisions offer another perspective on the implementation of evidence-based practice. At last, the authors combine all the aspects mentioned above and depict evidence-based leadership as leaders who are more able and willing to use evidence in the decision-making process, also can deal with the complexities of the practice, and make an improvement in the quality of management.

What is considered as “evidence”?

There are many understandings and notions of “evidence”.  Walshe and Rundall (2001) articulate in the essay that “evidence” should include the guidelines being produced and disseminated, the training in techniques such as critical appraisal, and the books and journal papers about evidence-based practice. Also, the “evidence” means the culture, research base, and decision-making processes.

I think there are another two aspects should be considered as “evidence” after reading and reflecting all the articles. They are rigorous and well-conducted research findings in suitable context, and the real things happened in the history.

Why is evidence-based decision-making important?

As far as I am concerned, the decision made through evidence-based practice is more sound than other decisions. Secondly, the evidence-based practice in decision-making offers a logical way to make the decision sensible. At last, an evidence-based decision gives persuasive arguments for other people to accept and be supportive.

My question

Everyone has different opinions of “evidence”. Clearly, we would only use the ones that sound reliable to us. What kinds of evidence would you use in your decision-making process?

 

 

References

Patton, M. (2001). Evaluation, knowledge management, best practices and high quality lessons learned. American Journal of Evaluation, 22(3), 329-336.

Trybus, M. (2007). Understanding scientifically based research: A mandate or decision making tool? Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin, 73(4), 5-8.

Walshe, K. & Rundall, T.G. (2001). Evidence-based management: From theory to practice in health care. The Millbank Quarterly, 79(3), 429-457.

Unit 1 Learning Activities

 

 

 

There are many factors that could shape the decision-making process of a leader. In my opinion, there are five principal factors: past experience, professional knowledge, personal capability and capacity, emotional intelligence, and worldview. I did not think of one’s worldview in the beginning. While after reading Unit 1 Notes, I sensed that one’s worldview actually played an invisible and significant role in decision-making process. Basically, the formation of a worldview is based on one’s cognitive process, and people control their own destinies and make their own decisions by believing in and acting on the values and beliefs that they hold (Cameron & Green, 2015). Therefore, the contribution of one’s worldview to the decision-making process cannot be neglected anymore.

Moreover, I completely agree with the proposition made in Unit 1 Notes that one’s worldview influences the types of questions that one asks and the processes one uses to find the answers to his or her questions. According to Peterson (2001), one’s worldview can be depicted as a larger cognitive framework. Everyone asks questions and finds the answers in his or her own way, which greatly corresponds to his or her own cognition, preference, and experience. In another word, the way in which an individual understands the world and other people determines the way that the individual thinks and behaves (Peck, 2002). As a result, people observe this world in distinct ways and form their own worldview. As mentioned in the first paragraph, most of the people are unconscious of the power of their worldview playing in the decision-making process and other issues in daily life. Thus, it is understandable that there would be conflicts among people from time to time because the worldview held by them might be completely different. So, it would be interesting to further figure out one question:

How to reconcile opinions of different worldviews to reach an agreement when there is a conflict?

References

Cameron, E., & Green, M. (2015). Making sense of change management: A complete

       guide to the models, tools, and techniques of organizational change. (4th ed.). Philadelphia,

PA: Kogan Page.

Peck, M. S. (2002). The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Values, And Spiritual

       Growth. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Peterson, G. R. (2001). Religion as orienting worldview. Zygon®, 36(1), 5-19.

 

https://create.twu.ca/ldrs591-sp18/unit-1-learning-activities/

Last year, when I was preparing for a presentation talking about air pollution, I realized that presenting pictures and theories of the polluted environment was not enough. Then I decided to do a research to find out the perspective of the local people. I interviewed more than twenty people, including pregnant women, securities, customers, young generations. Generally, I asked them four questions: Have you ever heard about the water pollution or air pollution in this country or other counties? What kinds of reasons lead to the consequences? How do you think these pollutions will affect people? Could you please recommend some solutions? During this research, I surprisingly found out that this polluted topic, with which I was very familiar, was kind of a new issue for most of them, especially the young generation. I took records of their words and organized them after going back home. The result of this research had greatly changed the content of the solution part of my presentation. Not only was the audience very interested in this research, but also the suggestions gave in the presentation were recognized by all of them. The most significant part for me was that I realized the true world is the perfect combination of both theories and research.

Furthermore, in my experiences, research is an essential tool for servant leadership. I was a mentor in a company and my job was to pass the knowledge and skills required in the work to all the new staff and part of the old staff. I always considered teachers as servant leaders and was behaving this way all the time. In order to make the course timetable perfect for everyone, I decided to change their course arrangement once. Most of the old staff resisted this change at first for thinking that their personal time would be changed as well. I made a survey and did the research to find out the available time of everyone. I also adjusted the arrangement of different courses to make sure everyone was on the right course and right time. With the help of the research, the staff resisting the new timetable found my plan plausible and reconsidered it. In the end, my decision was agreed by all the staff and everyone was delighted with the new arrangement. In my opinion, research played a crucial role in making my decision come true and accepted by other people smoothly.

I always believe that the goal of servant leadership is to serve other people in the best way and to make everyone a better person. To achieve this overarching goal, leaders should possess the capacity and the capability of using different skills and tools. I firmly hold that research is one of them, and I am looking forward to learning more by the end of this course.

Unit 1 Learning Activities