Complexity in management: Problems and strategies

In this research, it aims to determine the issues which mid-level managers meet in the context of complexity theory and how they manage them with the strategies in the management of educational institutions. In addition, Çanakkale Provincial Directorate of National Education is analysed as a selected education organisation in the light of complexity theory. In the study, the interview method was used. The working group constitutes a total of ten education administrators working in Çanakkale Provincial Directorate of National Education. The data, given in the research, were written by the researcher in the direction of the sub-problems of the research. These data are grouped according to the theme determined in the direction of the subordinate problems. In the analysis of the data, inductive analysis technique, one type of content analysis, was applied. According to the education administrators, the institution demonstrates the open system feature. In this context, environment (parent, press, public opinion) dimension, student input dimension and output/result dimension are leading issues. The issues that education administrators see most important in the planning, implementation and supervision dimensions of the institution are behaviours showing resistance to change, lack of communication, confusion of decision-makers and repressive behaviour of the local press. In addition, the lack of sufficient and qualified personnel is also a problem. Educational administrators state that the system is chain-bound and that it is not always possible for the institution to be in balance. © Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2019.