This study is based on interviews with five directors of educational administration within the Stockholm County. The purpose is to investigate how the directors of educational administrations, in the different municipalities, describe the relationship between the administration and the local school units. Moreover, the aim is also to describe the administration director’s work in relation to the various levels of the administration. To what extent can it be identified as a dimension of the learning organization described in this report.

The study shows that skepticism is usually directed upwards toward the next level in the organization and that the decision-making right for local schools is consistently safeguarded. The responsibility for development work and competence training is mainly put in the hands of the local school units.

The work of the directors of administrations concerning the relationship between the different levels in the administrations could only partially be identified as parts of the learning organization described. When compared to that organization it lacked several components. Among other things this concerned the possibilities for different groups in the organization to meet with each other, accessibility of information, a learning focus in evaluations and developing of a vision and understanding of the mission among staff within the administration.

The discussion is among other things about the growing focus on results from the politicians, and how this affects the role as director of administration. Suggested further research is to carry out the same study from a different perspective, for example from the point of view of politicians, principles or students.