This paper looks at the role of a Writing Program Administrator, and applies the idea of a cybernetic system to the administration of the program. In this cybernetic model, the Writing Program Administrator (WPA) works as both a problem solver and problem causer, with the responsibility of keeping the program in proper balance. A cybernetic…

This essay discusses changes in higher education management over the last several decades, focusing on the "mystiques" of the 1990s, total quality management (TQM) and diversity. It notes that since the 1950s, higher education has witnessed many fads in institutional management, from management by technique to management by style to management by…

A study examined legal and ethical considerations used by school administrators in decision making. A national survey of 306 elementary and secondary principals and district superintendents yielded 226 responses. The survey instrument examined administrators' ability to make ethical and legal decisions and described their reported decision-making…

As administrators work through contextual persuasion to affect people, activities coordination hinges to some extent on the quality of a leader's argumentation skills. Policy administration is a process of arguing explanations. Six categories vital for administrators to cover to deter critics while putting forward policy are: relevant information,…

Focused on top managers working within administrative systems, this book identifies the major principles governing these managers' behavior. Since the organization's business and the manager's own career interests determine what occurs in an administrative system, the signals managers send out to underscore their own competence are also…

As more women enter the managerial ranks, organizations are finding it necessary to address the possibility of gender bias in managerial performance ratings. To investigate the existence of gender bias in managerial performance ratings as they relate to problem-solving strategies, 197 college students (46 percent female) and 127 managers (of those…

A strong superintendent-board partnership is based on six elements: full disclosure, sufficient information, careful planning, informal interaction, periodic evaluation, and mutual support. (Published by California School Boards Association, 800 9th Street, Suite 201, Sacramento, California 95814) (Author)

This monograph analyzes the philosophical foundations of research into the administration of educational organizations. The first part reviews past debates about the philosophical foundations of research in educational administration, focusing on three contending schools of thought: the empiricists, the phenomenologists, and the critical…

This document presents minimum standards for programs serving gifted and talented students. The first chapter discusses program design standards, with a focus on building a flexible system of program options throughout general and special education that can be matched with the needs, strengths, and interests of gifted and talented students. The…

This volume is part of a series of monographs from Australia devoted to outlining an alternative approach, based on neo-Marxist concepts, to educational administration. Beginning with a discussion of the contested relationship between the individual and the state, the politics of administration is set within the debate over liberalism, Marxism and…

The "Seven S" framework developed by Pascale and Athos can be adapted to encompass both the technical and philosophical dimensions of organizational problem solving. For a community college, the seven elements of the model would be: (1) Superordinate goals--the significant meanings and guiding concepts that make up the philosophy of a…

Managerial styles and the concommitant relationships between managers and other employees can have a significant impact on many aspects of the work situation. In a study of the environments within two automotive supply organizations similar in size and technology but different in formal managerial styles (participative management and modified…

Adults who work in Montessori schools often experience loneliness, stress, and burnout. Evidence suggests that the way an organization is managed has considerable impact on the mental health of the people who work in it. It is important to recognize that leadership and managerial roles differ. The head of a school, as leader, moves the…

The professional preparation received by school administrators in developed countries is not necessarily appropriate for administrators in developing areas. There is little disagreement over the need for specialized training for these administrators, but decisions remain to be made concerning the types of training to be selected and the delivery…

This book provides a professional and comprehensive approach to solving the problems inherent in computer software development, operations, and maintenance. The information is structured and written so that people with varying experience in data processing can benefit from it. It is intended for executives whose activities interrelate with data…