”Barnehageledelse i endring”.

The purpose of this study is to examine the extent and in what manner management at daycare centres is directed towards daycare centres' external stakeholders and relations. In addition, the study examines the extent and in which manner management at daycare centres is responsible for the pedagogical quality of daycare centres. Moreover, the study examines the changes in daycare centre management since the 1990s, and the study argues that daycare centre management should be given more priority.

The study shows that many managers are very active pedagogical managers and take responsibility for the development as well as the needs of the individual child. The managers want to strengthen the pedagogical profile of their daycare centres and are eager to establish a good pedagogical practice. In addition, staff supervision is perceived as an important part of the job. The study also shows that administration of external relations is in focus and that managers find it important to shield employees from external requirements from parents and municipalities. The study shows that it is a difficult balancing act for managers to handle these requirements while, at the same time, representing the municipality. The managers regard collaboration with the school as an important task.

The data collection consists of interviews with managers at ten daycare centres in three municipalities. The data material is part of a larger study. The interviews were semi-structured and the questions were designed for managers to describe their tasks, how they prioritise time, as well as areas in which they do not think that they perform well enough. Interview questions were based on four management functions: administrative management, pedagogical management, personnel management and management directed towards external stakeholders.

Børhaug, K. og Lotsberg, D.Ø. (2010). ”Barnehageledelse i endring”. Nordisk Barnehageforskning, 3(3), 79-94.