A Comparative Study of Succession System of Educational Leaders in Japan, Singapore, Finland and the United States of America: Providing Guidelines for Iran s Educational System

Identification of talented people for educational organizations management and fostering them is one of the common challenges of educational system of developed and developing countries. The purpose of present research was to investigate succession system of educational leaders in four successful educational systems of Japan, Singapore, Finland and the United States of America from a comparative perspective. The research and data collection methods were qualitative -based on George Bereday s approach- and documentary respectively. The findings indicated existence of seven similarities among selected countries in components such as: Difficulty of finding a suitable candidate, lack of a formal succession system, importance of teaching experience, role of in-service courses, evaluation of previous behavioral and professional performances, and role of Local Boards of Education. Also, the findings revealed difference between four countries in five components related to succession system. For example, while in Japan and Singapore seniority is the most important factor in the succession process of managers, Finland and USA do not necessarily follow it. Also, offering the opportunity to potential external candidates to replace the current managers - through conducting interviews and examining scientific and professional resumes - is more common in Finland and USA. Another important finding is the distinctive role of cultural factors in the succession process of Japan and Singapore, while in Finland and USA, the personal efficacy of the manager s potential successors is considered.