Educational management as a process-oriented approach: a literature review
Keywords:
educational management; process-oriented approach; continuous improvement; school leadership; rural education; educational quality; ISO 9001 standardAbstract
Objective. This study aimed to analyze the current landscape of scientific production related to educational management in rural areas, with a specific focus on the role of school principals, through a process-based perspective emphasizing continuous improvement. The review focused on articles indexed in the Scopus database, published between 2010 and 2024. Methodology. A total of 44 articles were systematically reviewed, selected through a rigorous search strategy and the application of clear inclusion and exclusion criteria. The documents were organized and analyzed according to thematic, methodological, and theoretical categories to identify patterns, emerging trends, and research gaps. Results and discussion. The reviewed studies revolve around six main axes: context-sensitive leadership practices, school-community engagement, professional development and training of principals, working conditions and teacher well-being, structural challenges of rural environments, and emerging educational innovation. Qualitative approaches, particularly content analysis and case study designs, were predominant. The most frequently used theoretical frameworks include transformational and distributed leadership, social capital theory, educational equity models, teacher well-being perspectives, and innovative leadership rooted in territorial dynamics. Conclusions. Rural educational management is consolidating as a relevant and expanding field of study; however, it continues to face structural limitations. There is a need to move toward a more flexible, territorially grounded, and process-oriented model of school management that accounts for the diversity and complexity of rural realities. Strengthening context-based principal training, systematizing successful local experiences, and promoting differentiated policies based on quality and equity criteria are key challenges ahead. Originality and value. This review provides an updated, critical, and context-sensitive overview of recent research on school leadership in rural areas. Its main contribution lies in offering a robust analytical foundation to support future investigations and guide the development of more effective, culturally responsive, and equity-driven public education policies.
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