Extrinsic versus Intrinsic Sources of Interruptions in Principalship

Abstract

Work interruptions as any disruptive event that impedes unexpectedly progress toward accomplishing organizational tasks. This qualitative study explores the ways Israeli school principals perceive interruptions and traces their specific sources and implications. Based on semi-structured interviews with 12 school principals, the novel findings of this study reveal that principals interpret the sources of interruptions and reclassify events based on their alignment with their core goals, even if the events share the characteristics of interruptions as defined in the literature. Understanding interruption in principalship sheds light on how principals shape their workday while dealing with brief, fragmented activities resulting from interruptions. Empirical and practical implications are suggested.