School Leadership View of Human and Organizational Factors in Performance Management: A Comparative Analysis of High- and Low-Performing Schools

Abstract

This study explored data use in schools, and human and organizational factors associated with performance management systems between high- and low-performing schools in Milwaukee Public Schools, a large urban school district in southeastern Wisconsin. Specifically, this research investigated school improvement planning and use of different types of academic data for decision support from the viewpoint of school leadership. Interviews with principals and observations of school improvement planning meetings were conducted to identify and describe (1) dimensions of data and data use and (2) the human and organization factors in school-based performance management systems between high- and low-performing schools. Implications for macroergonomic analysis in school-based performance management systems and differentiated designs for school support are discussed.