Bridging the gap with teamwork: collaborative leadership for communities of practice in the learning and skills sector

Collaborative approaches in leadership and management are increasingly acknowledged to play a key role in successful institutions in the learning and skills sector (LSS) (Ofsted, 2004). Such approaches may be important in bridging the potential 'distance' (psychological, cultural, interactional and geographical) (Collinson, 2005) that may exist between 'leaders' and 'followers', fostering more democratic communal solidarity. This paper reports on a 2006-07 research project funded by the Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL) that aimed to collect and analyse data on 'collaborative leadership' (CL) in the learning and skills sector. The project investigated collaborative leadership and its potential for benefiting staff through trust and knowledge-sharing in communities of practice (CoPs). The project forms part of longer-term educational research investigating leadership in a collaborative inquiry process (Jameson et al., 2006). The research examined the potential for CL to benefit institutions, analysing respondents' understanding of and resistance to collaborative practices. Quantitative and qualitative data from senior managers and lecturers was analysed using electronic data in SPSS and Tropes Zoom. The project aimed to recommend systems and practices for more inclusive, diverse leadership (Lumby et al., 2005). Collaborative leadership has increasingly gained international prominence as emphasis shifted towards team leadership beyond zero-sum 'leadership'/ 'followership' polarities into more mature conceptions of shared leadership spaces, within which synergistic leadership spaces can be mediated. The relevance of collaboration within the LSS has been highlighted following a spate of recent government-driven policy developments in FE. The promotion of CL addresses concerns about the apparent 'remoteness' of some senior managers, and the 'neo-management' control of professionals which can increase 'distance' between leaders and 'followers' and may de-professionalise staff in an already disempowered sector. Positive benefit from 'collaborative advantage' tends to be assumed in idealistic interpretations of CL, but potential 'collaborative inertia' may be problematic in a sector characterised by rapid top-down policy changes and continuous external audit and surveillance. Constant pressure for achievement against goals leaves little time for democratic group negotiations, despite the desires of leaders to create a more collaborative ethos. Yet prior models of intentional communities of practice potentially offer promise for CL practice to improve group performance despite multiple constraints. The CAMEL CoP model (JISC infoNet, 2006) was linked to the project, providing one practical way of implementing CL within situated professional networks.The project found that a good understanding of CL was demonstrated by most respondents, who thought it could enable staff to share power and work in partnership to build trust and conjoin skills, abilities and experience to achieve common goals for the good of the sector. However, although most respondents expressed agreement with the concept and ideals of CL, many thought this was currently an idealistically democratic, unachievable pipe dream in the LSS. Many respondents expressed concerns with the 'audit culture' and authoritarian management structures in FE. While there was a strong desire to see greater levels of implementation of CL, and 'collaborative advantage' from the 'knowledge sharing benefit potential' of team leadership, respondents also strongly advised against the pitfalls of 'collaborative inertia'. A 'distance' between senior leadership views and those of staff lower down the hierarchy regarding aspects of leadership performance in the sector was reported. Finally, the project found that more research is needed to investigate CL and develop innovative methods of practical implementation within autonomous communities of professional practice.

Natural iron fertilization of the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean by continental shelf sources of the Antarctic Peninsula

In large parts of the Southern Ocean, primary production is limited due to shortage of iron (Fe). We measured vertical Fe profiles in the western Weddell Sea, Weddell-Scotia Confluence, and Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), showing that Fe is derived from benthic Fe diffusion and sediment resuspension in areas characterized by high turbulence due to rugged bottom topography. Our data together with literature data reveal an exponential decrease of dissolved Fe (DFe) concentrations with increasing distance from the continental shelves of the Antarctic Peninsula and the western Weddell Sea. This decrease can be observed 3500 km eastward of the Antarctic Peninsula area, downstream the ACC. We estimated DFe summer fluxes into the upper mixed layer of the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean and found that horizontal advection dominates DFe supply, representing 54 ± 15% of the total flux, with significant vertical advection second most important at 29 ± 13%. Horizontal and vertical diffusion are weak with 1 ± 2% and 1 ± 1%, respectively. The atmospheric contribution is insignificant close to the Antarctic continent but increases to 15 ± 10% in the remotest waters (>1500 km offshore) of the ACC. Translating Southern Ocean carbon fixation by primary producers into biogenic Fe fixation shows a twofold excess of new DFe input close to the Antarctic continent and a one-third shortage in the open ocean. Fe recycling, with an estimated “fe” ratio of 0.59, is the likely pathway to balance new DFe supply and Fe fixation.

Los pastizales anuales semiáridos del sector Almeriense: Spergulo fallacis-Plantaginetum ovatae, una nueva comunidad endémica

Tras estudiar los pastizales de ambientes semitiridos de Almería, creemos que es conveniente designar una nueva asociación: Spergulo fallacis-Plantaginetum ovatae, que se presenta sobre suelos nitriticados y limosos de ombroclimna semiárido en el piso termomediterráneo.La comunidad se encuadra dentro de la alianza Stipion retortae Br.-BI. ex O. Bolós 1956 (Trachynietalia distachyae Rivas-Martínez 1978; Thero-Brachypodietea Br-BI. ex A. De Bolòs y Vayreda 1950) y se distingue de las demás por la presencia constante deSpergula fallax, taxon distribuido por zonas áridas desde el Norte de Africa hasta el centro de Asia, cuyas únicas poblaciones europeas se dan en la provincia de Almería.

Aproximación a la biogeografía del sector Setabense (provincia Catalano-Valenciano-Provenzal)

Se realiza una propuesta de división en subsectores del sector Setabense (Provincia biogeográfica Catalano- Valenciano-Provenzal). Las unidades reconocidas son: 1 subsector Valenciano;2 subseetor Enguerina-Cofrentino; 3 subsector Ayorano-Villenense; 4 subsector Alcoyano-Diánico. Para cada uno de ellos se aporta una breve descripción y caracterización de su flora, vegetación, paisaje vegetal, suelos, bioclimatología, usos del territorio, etc. Además se proponen dos nuevas combinaciones taxonómicas: Asperula paui Font Quer subsp. dianensis (Font Quer) de la Torre, Alcaraz & Crespo y Linaria depauperata Leresehe ex Lange subsp. hegelmaieri (Lange) de la Torre, Alcaraz & Crespo, y se valida la combinación Arctostaphyllos uva-ursi (L.) Sprengel subsp. crassifol¡a (Br.-Bl.) Rivas-Martínez ex de la Torre, Alcaraz & Crespo.

Estudio del Cheilanthion hispanicae Rivas Goday 1955 em. Sáenz de Rivas & Rivas-Martínez 1979 y comunidades afines, en el Sector Orensano-Sanabriense (Provincia Carpetano-Ibérico-Leonesa)

Se analiza el comportamiento fitosociológico de las comunidades vegetales caracterizadas por la presencia de los taxones Cheilanthes tinaei Todaro y Ch. hispanica Mett. en el Sector Orensano-Sanabriense (Provincia Carpetano-lbérico-Leonesa), proponiendo para ellas la asociación Linario glabrescentis-Cheilanthetum tinaei y las subasociaciones: Linario glabrescentis-Cheilanthetum tinaei cheilanthetosum hispanicae nova y Linario glabrescentis-Cheilanthetum tinaei cheilanthetosum guanchicae nova.Comentamos brevemente la asociación Phagnalo saxatile-Rumicetum indurati Rivas-Martínez inéd, que contacta topográficamente con la asociación anteriormente propuesta.Se aportan datos sobre el comportamiento fitosociológico de Cheilanthes pteridioides (Reichard) C. Chr.

Estudio fitosociológico de los sabinares de Juniperus phoenicea L. en el sector Malacitano-Almijarense (provincia corológica Bética)

Se describe una nueva asociación (Rhamno myrtifoli-Juniperetum phoeniceae) de la alianza Rhamno-Quercion cocciferae distribuida en el sector Malacitano-Almijarense (provincia corológica Bética).

Vegetación de las montañas del sector Murciano

Los autores presentan un ensayo de síntesis corológica del sector Murciano (provincia corológica Murciano-Almeriense) dentro del que reconocen dos subsectores y once distritos. Para ilustrar la diversidad de esta unidad corológica se presentan los cortes fitotopográficos de cinco macizos (Sierras de Orihuela, Carrascoy, Espuña, El Carche y Pajares) pertenecienes a otros tantos distritos.

Los enebrales rastreros oromediterráneos del sector Ibérico-Soriano

Se ha realizado un estudio fitosociológico de los enebrales rastreros oromediterráneos del Sistema Ibérico septentrional (Demanda, Neila, Urbión y Cebollera), en el que se comentan también aspectos relacionados con su ecologia y conservación. Se describen dos nuevas subasociaciones: Vaccinio-myrtilli-Juniperetum nanae minuartietosum recurvae y Vaccinio myrtilli-Juniperetum nanae vaccinietosum uliginosi.