title: 'The way we do things around here': A consideration of processes by which mathematics Heads of Faculty develop effective culture within their departments

authors: Brassington, Lyn Maree

subjects: Organisational culture

abstract: There is a new era in education leadership.  While it is difficult to mark its exact beginning, it is clear that there is a movement away from mechanistic towards cultural education leadership.  It is characterised by an emerging understanding of more holistic leadership approaches focusing on mastering change instead of control, individual development rather than assurance, and innovation more than standards (Ehlers, 2009).  In essence it is the development of an organisational culture based on shared values, necessary competencies and new professionalism.

The importance of organisational culture is a long established idea; great business leaders have known of it for years.  The culture of an organisation is like its personality and an informal understanding of ‘the way we do things around here’.  It is a generalising and grouping together of the shared understandings of the way things are done, how people within it organise and interact.  Many school leaders spend considerable time building cohesive school cultures (Deal & Kennedy, 1983).  This study looks at the level of the Head of Faculty, (hence forth referred to as Head of Department as it is the most recognised term within the teaching field); specifically at how mathematics department leaders develop effective culture within their departments.  Heads of Department are in a position to build inspiring workplace cultures that will create an atmosphere of high-performance, innovation, collaboration, and opportunity.  

To provide a framework from which to view the research a comprehensive literature review of the concepts of organisational culture, subcultures developed through secondary school  departments and secondary school department leadership practices and processes was conducted.  Thereafter, a small-scale qualitative study was undertaken using a semi-structured interview process to gather data from five mathematics Heads of Department, focusing on their experiences related to organisational culture.  Themes that emerged from the data first centred on observable behaviour and artifacts which were initial department design, physical environment, leadership structure, and style.  The second set of themes looked at shared values, rules, and behavioural norms which were building a shared philosophy and vision; anxiety and conflict; and critical self-reflection.  The third set of themes covered basic underlying assumptions and they were communication, being centred on learners, and building a climate of trust.

text: 'The way we do things around here': A consideration of processes by which mathematics Heads of Faculty develop effective culture within their departments There is a new era in education leadership.  While it is difficult to mark its exact beginning, it is clear that there is a movement away from mechanistic towards cultural education leadership.  It is characterised by an emerging understanding of more holistic leadership approaches focusing on mastering change instead of control, individual development rather than assurance, and innovation more than standards (Ehlers, 2009).  In essence it is the development of an organisational culture based on shared values, necessary competencies and new professionalism.

The importance of organisational culture is a long established idea; great business leaders have known of it for years.  The culture of an organisation is like its personality and an informal understanding of ‘the way we do things around here’.  It is a generalising and grouping together of the shared understandings of the way things are done, how people within it organise and interact.  Many school leaders spend considerable time building cohesive school cultures (Deal & Kennedy, 1983).  This study looks at the level of the Head of Faculty, (hence forth referred to as Head of Department as it is the most recognised term within the teaching field); specifically at how mathematics department leaders develop effective culture within their departments.  Heads of Department are in a position to build inspiring workplace cultures that will create an atmosphere of high-performance, innovation, collaboration, and opportunity.  

To provide a framework from which to view the research a comprehensive literature review of the concepts of organisational culture, subcultures developed through secondary school  departments and secondary school department leadership practices and processes was conducted.  Thereafter, a small-scale qualitative study was undertaken using a semi-structured interview process to gather data from five mathematics Heads of Department, focusing on their experiences related to organisational culture.  Themes that emerged from the data first centred on observable behaviour and artifacts which were initial department design, physical environment, leadership structure, and style.  The second set of themes looked at shared values, rules, and behavioural norms which were building a shared philosophy and vision; anxiety and conflict; and critical self-reflection.  The third set of themes covered basic underlying assumptions and they were communication, being centred on learners, and building a climate of trust.

year: 2012

title: The characterisation of a thermostable endo-β-1,4-mannanase cloned from “Caldocellum saccharolyticum”

authors: Bicho, Paul A.

subjects: biology

abstract: An endo-gb-1,4-mannanase cloned from  caldocellum saccharolyticum  and expressed in Escherichia coli was partially purified. The purification involved heat treatment, anion exchange and gel filtration. The mannanase was only active against mannan, glucomannans and galactoglucomannans and obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics on these substrates. The rate and extent of hydrolysis was dependent on the type of substrate. Galactomannans were not as readily depolymerized as the mannan and glucomannans investigated. The glucose content of the glucomannans did not affect the rate of hydrolysis and only slightly affected the extent. The molecular mass of the mannanase was estimated at 39 kDa. The pH and temperature optima were 6.5 and 80° C respectively. The mannanase was very thermostable with a half life of 48 min at 85° C and no loss in activity after 24 h at 70° C.

text: The characterisation of a thermostable endo-β-1,4-mannanase cloned from “Caldocellum saccharolyticum” An endo-gb-1,4-mannanase cloned from  caldocellum saccharolyticum  and expressed in Escherichia coli was partially purified. The purification involved heat treatment, anion exchange and gel filtration. The mannanase was only active against mannan, glucomannans and galactoglucomannans and obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics on these substrates. The rate and extent of hydrolysis was dependent on the type of substrate. Galactomannans were not as readily depolymerized as the mannan and glucomannans investigated. The glucose content of the glucomannans did not affect the rate of hydrolysis and only slightly affected the extent. The molecular mass of the mannanase was estimated at 39 kDa. The pH and temperature optima were 6.5 and 80° C respectively. The mannanase was very thermostable with a half life of 48 min at 85° C and no loss in activity after 24 h at 70° C.

year: 1991

title: Ecological modelling of water quality management options in Lake Waahi to support Hauanga Kai species: Technical Report

authors: Allan, Mathew Grant

abstract: This report describes a numerical modelling approach for Lake Waahi to assess the effects of various future scenarios on water quality attributes known to affect the appearance of the lake’s multiple hauanga kai species across differing spatial scales. Hauanga kai refers to customary gathering and use of naturally occurring and cultivated foods. Numerical models were used to support shared learning and development of future scenarios in response to different management options and environmental pressures. The shallow lakes of the Waikato region have been particularly impacted by anthropogenic eutrophication. This is due to the fact that many of these lakes have already undergone a degree of natural eutrophication due to their geomorphic properties, such as their low elevation and shallow depth. The main contributing factors to water quality decline in shallow Waikato lakes have been identified as: high external nutrient and sediment loads, internal loading exacerbated by high sediment resuspension and bioturbation from pest fish (carp), reduced water depth due to installation of water control structures, reduction in wetland filtering potential due to draining, and stock access to wetlands. A 1-D hydrodynamics model, the General Ocean Turbulence Model was coupled to a complex ecological model (PClake) via the Framework for Aquatic Biogeochemical Models (FABM). FABM is an open source FORTAN-based code that facilitates the coupling of hydrodynamic and ecological models. FABM-PCLake is a redesigned PCLake. The consensus from the model simulations carried out in the study suggests that, for Lake Waahi to undergo restoration whereby the lake is restored to clear-water stable state, both external load needs to be reduced significantly by greater than 50%, along with changes in lake ecological structure, resulting from re-establishment of macrophytes aided by the control of carp biomass. These finding supports the general view within the literature that for lake restoration success, external load reduction (catchment load) is critical. Finally, if the ultimate goal of lake restoration in Lake Waahi is to address the decline in tuna (shortfin eel - Anguilla australis) biomass, a return to a clear-water stable state should facilitate improvement in tuna habitat and provide the conditions for development of a healthy eel population. Coupled modelling approaches will provide a more complete picture of potential responses of Hauanga kai species to land and lake management scenarios.

text: Ecological modelling of water quality management options in Lake Waahi to support Hauanga Kai species: Technical Report This report describes a numerical modelling approach for Lake Waahi to assess the effects of various future scenarios on water quality attributes known to affect the appearance of the lake’s multiple hauanga kai species across differing spatial scales. Hauanga kai refers to customary gathering and use of naturally occurring and cultivated foods. Numerical models were used to support shared learning and development of future scenarios in response to different management options and environmental pressures. The shallow lakes of the Waikato region have been particularly impacted by anthropogenic eutrophication. This is due to the fact that many of these lakes have already undergone a degree of natural eutrophication due to their geomorphic properties, such as their low elevation and shallow depth. The main contributing factors to water quality decline in shallow Waikato lakes have been identified as: high external nutrient and sediment loads, internal loading exacerbated by high sediment resuspension and bioturbation from pest fish (carp), reduced water depth due to installation of water control structures, reduction in wetland filtering potential due to draining, and stock access to wetlands. A 1-D hydrodynamics model, the General Ocean Turbulence Model was coupled to a complex ecological model (PClake) via the Framework for Aquatic Biogeochemical Models (FABM). FABM is an open source FORTAN-based code that facilitates the coupling of hydrodynamic and ecological models. FABM-PCLake is a redesigned PCLake. The consensus from the model simulations carried out in the study suggests that, for Lake Waahi to undergo restoration whereby the lake is restored to clear-water stable state, both external load needs to be reduced significantly by greater than 50%, along with changes in lake ecological structure, resulting from re-establishment of macrophytes aided by the control of carp biomass. These finding supports the general view within the literature that for lake restoration success, external load reduction (catchment load) is critical. Finally, if the ultimate goal of lake restoration in Lake Waahi is to address the decline in tuna (shortfin eel - Anguilla australis) biomass, a return to a clear-water stable state should facilitate improvement in tuna habitat and provide the conditions for development of a healthy eel population. Coupled modelling approaches will provide a more complete picture of potential responses of Hauanga kai species to land and lake management scenarios.

year: 2018