Three Change Agents' Space of Action: A Case Study at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study was to identify what possibilities three lecturers, called Change Agents, have to implement the concepts from the training programme “Child Rights, Classroom and School Management” at Makerere University. We have analysed how the three factors leadership, organisational structure and organisational culture have affected their space of action in the implementation process. This is a case study focusing on the department where the three Change Agents are employed. The result is based on interviews with the three Change Agents, their supervisors and colleagues. Furthermore, observations and document studies have been undertaken to complement the data from the interviews. We have identified the Change Agents’ space of action using the terms ‘control over actions’ and ‘control over outcomes’. The analysis shows that they have control over their daily work tasks, due to the organisational structure, but cannot control the outcomes such as influencing the colleagues to a great extent. The importance of support from and a good relationship with the leaders have been emphasised. Further, the concepts of child rights and student-centred learning are to some extent incongruent with the departmental values. Lastly, we have discussed how the Change Agents can benefit from this research, i.e. how they can expand their space of action by using this information.