The Principal's Role as Manager of the Organization - Report Example

THE PRINCIPAL'S ROLE AS MANAGER OF THE ORGANIZATION Name ……………………. University THE PRINCIPAL'S ROLE AS MANAGER OF THE ORGANIZATION MANAGING ORGANIZATION The role of school leaders in implementing educational policies and school development is imperative for attainment of goals and objectives of optimizing the learning environment for all students. Learning is a complex exercise in which one single theory or model or a set of principles cannot be termed sufficient for its development or management. The organizational development is a response to change and transform, a complicated educational strategy planned to change beliefs, attitudes, values, and structure of organization so that the organization could better adapt itself with the upcoming new technologies, markets, and challenges. However, theories such as behaviorism, cognitivism and constructivism (Urassa P E, 2004) can prove to be beneficial in understanding learning and school leader’s concepts and practices. The main foundation of school leadership is based on two main theories of contextual and interpersonal concepts (Urassa P E, 2004). Leadership that confines power ends up in a powerless organization and one that liberates power renders enormous energy for more productive use. Hence, to incorporate such transformations in the learning environment, use of appropriate organizational models is quintessential. For instance, the Action research Model (Mc Lean NG, 2005), crowned by Kurt Lewin explains the necessity for ongoing educational organizational improvement that is based on data driven decision-making (Urassa P E, 2004). Plan – Do- Check – Act are the stages where firstly decisions should be made using a variety of decision making tools in order to make the learning environment more interesting and responsive to the current complex word of schooling, secondly the defined plans must be carried out in a pilot or trial implementation phase to create a learning community in schools whereby the teachers and the students work in unison and bring learning to reality, thirdly, total quality management must be undertaken to achieve the desired change by directing the energy and intelligence towards progress and lastly, the plan must be finally implemented focusing on the management ideas and techniques where the educator dwells deeply into their own knowledge and insights. The school leadership has to competent enough to collaborate and coordinate teachers, students and community in general so as to facilitate the students overall learning. The learning environment for all students can also be optimized by implementation of the ODP (organization development process) model (Mc Lean NG, 2005), which consists of eight components including entry, startup, assessment and feedback, action plan, implementation, evaluation, adoption and separation. By focusing on this model, the strengths and weaknesses of the organizational culture can be thoroughly explored. The model emphasizes on developing practices to foster interest and concern among students, team spirit and group loyalty among in classrooms and school environment, confidence, trust and communication among students, more freedom to set their own goals and objectives. On the whole the model is all about making students adapt to new technologies and challenges and focusing more on management of objectives, rather than management of control. Along with the models , certain principles and values ( Mc Lean NG , 2005 ) that form the base of organizational development can also be linked with the students overall learning process such as inculcation of respect and inclusion that helps students to value the perspectives and opinions of all, promoting collaboration by building win-win relationships in the classrooms and school environment, building authenticity among students to behave in accordance with their espoused values, developing self-awareness and inter-personal skills, highlighting empowerment to help the students to enhance their individual levels of autonomy and courage, thereby elevating their morale and efficiency, democracy and social spirit would help the students to learn better. MANAGING RESOURCES The equitable allocation of resources requires proper management of all areas including fiscal, human and material aspects. Use of problem solving skills and strategic vision can help in attainment of optimum results. A system resource model (Barnat R, 2005) can facilitate the decision maker’s ability, as in this case the principal can efficiently distribute resources among the various subsystems such as fiscal, human and material. The principal through his unique problem solving skills and strategic knowledge can exploit its environment in acquisition of scarce and valuable resources. The system resource model can help the principal to channelize his abilities and strengths in perceiving and interpreting the internal and the external environment, produce a certain specified output, maintenance of internal day-to day activities, coordinating relationships among the various subsystems, evaluating the effects of the decisions undertaken. Each organizational activity or division requires specific allocation of resources in terms of fiscal, human and material resources (Barnat R, 2005). . Decision, problems and goals can be efficiently handled when they are shared with a number of people. The decision maker or the principal bargains it with other groups for the limited available resources which are important for solving problems and achieving goals. The main output of the model related to the function of specific strategies selected by the principal for attaining the optimum results. The model helps in the measurement of the principal’s ability to make use of various resources in order to respond to the critical issues. METHODS AND/OR STRATEGIES TO SEEK NEW RESOURCES TO FACILITATE LEARNING RELATED TO THE PROBLEM OR TOPIC In 1990s, the main focus on strategies and roles for supporting teaching and learning was rested among students, faculty, technology and support for learning and teaching. However, in the current times the inclination is bent more towards the ‘new students’ , new environment for faculty, changes in technology, new ways to needed to support teaching and learning ( Regenstein C & Christoph K, 2003). In the modern times, there is greater emphasis for the development of strategies and processes that would support the reusability of web based resources specifically related with the teaching and learning organizations. Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) program for massive development and implementation of efficient and effective distributed learning environment, Sharable courseware Object Reference Model (SCORM), and IMS global learning consortium for encouraging online distribution learning are few methods to seek new ways of transforming the learning environment (Oliver R, Wirski R, Hingston P & Omari A, 2003). To optimize the learning environment for students, it’s important for the principal to make available a variety of resources, whereby the students are able to access and consider all possible information seeking sources (Eisenberg M & Doug, 1996). The information seeking strategies to facilitate learning may include firstly, the assessment of the value of various types of electronic and other resources for data gathering, such as CD-ROM resources, commercial and Internet online resources, electronic reference works etc. secondly, the strategy must look forward for the identification and application of particular criteria for evaluating computerized electronic and other resources. Thirdly, assess the value of e-mail, discussion forums on the Internet as part of a search of the current literature, use of other print media in relation to the information task or problem. And fourthly to make use of technology to generate flowcharts charts, Gantt charts, time lines, organizational charts, project plans , schedule etc which will help the student plan and organize intricate and multifarious information problem-solving tasks. The six skills approach can be used to apply and make of current technologies related to the business procedures (Eisenberg M & Berkowitz B, 1988). The big six approach or strategy cab be used by students in times when they want to seek information to solve a problem, make a decision or complete a task. The approach includes steps starting from task definition, identification of information needed for the accomplishment of the task, information seeking strategies, locating and accessing sources, using and extracting relevant information, synthesis of data and finally evaluating information in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. Once the students have determined the priorities for information seeking, they must be able to locate and access information making use of computer resources and technologies available within the school library media center such as online catalogs, periodical indexes etc. the students can also make use of the technologies and resources available throughout the school and beyond the school boundaries through internet and other sources. Recognizing and identifying the roles and expertise of the people working in the specific area of related problem may be helpful in seeking information or assistance. Use of organizational systems and tools specific to information sources that aid in exploring specific and general information regarding the topic or the problem can be beneficial for the students (Eisenberg M & Doug, 1996). METHODS TO APPLY AND ASSESS THE USE OF CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES IN RELATION TO: School management: the principal’s leadership or school management has a direct impact on the in-school process and an indirect impact on the educational outcomes. Researchers such as Leithwood & Jantzi and Hallinger & Heck have reported that the effect of leadership on school effectiveness is attained through large extents by the necessary actions taken by the principal such as provision of positive school climate and continual development. For proper school management, incorporation of new strategies and technologies has become mandatory (Malhotra Y, 2000). Transformation from teacher centered to student centered learning, single sense to multisensory stimulation and multipath progression methods, emphasis on multimedia, collaborative work, information exchange, exploratory and inquiry based learning, learning in terms of authentic and real world context and critical thinking are few of the latest methods applied in making a holistic change in the learning environment and management of the school policies. Proper management could be realized only if the learning environment is backed up with a clear vision, skilled educators in the use of learning technology, student centered approach, proper and timely assessment of the effectiveness of the technology, access to modern technologies , software, and telecommunications networks, technical assistance for maintaining and using technological resources, community and financial support for sustained technology usage, and policies and standards that encourage and promote new learning environment. BUSINESS PROCEDURES To effectively manage, the business’s process and procedures, the current technology needs to provide various means to students to easily access web sites, use e-mail and other modes to communicate instantly, using a word processing system to collaborate, share resources and information etc. The effective management of technology is of vital importance for all educational organizations in the current scenario. It is of utmost importance understand, communicate and integrate technology strategy with marketing, financial, operations and human resource strategies of the business. The soaring expenses, pace and complexity of technology developments have made the assessment of the technologies a necessity. A five-process model can provide a structure whereby technology management activities in terms of business procedures can be understood (Phaal R, Farrukh P J C & Probert R D, 2001). The process includes identification, selection, acquisition, exploitation and protection. Based on this model, a technology management assessment procedure can be developed along with an “action research” approach to study the impact of the business procedure in terms of benefits derived by the students along with required modifications to the assessment procedure itself. REFERENCES Barnat, R. (2005). The Systems Resource Model. Retrieved on 26 January, 2009, http://www.strategic-control.24xls.com/en126 Eisenberg, M. & Berkowitz, B. (1988). Curriculum initiative: An agenda and strategy for library media programs. Norwood, NJ: Ablex. Eisenberg, M. & Doug, J. (1996). Computer skills for information problem-solving: learning and teaching technology in context. Eric digest. Retrieved January 26, 2009, http://www.ericdigests.org/1996-4/skills.htm Malhotra, Y. (2000), Knowledge management and new organization forms: a framework for business model innovation. Information Resources Management Journal, 13(1), 5-14. Mc Lean, N.G. (2005). Organization Development Principles, Processes, Performance. Published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers Oliver, R. Wirski, R. Hingston, P & Omari, A. (2003). Exploring the reusability of web based learning. In C. McNaught & D. Lassner (Eds.) Proceedings of Ed-Media. (pp 115-122). Phaal, R. Farrukh, P. C. Probert, R. D. ( 2001). Technology management process assessment: a case study. International Journal of Operations & Production Management. 21(8): 1116-1132. Regenstein, C. & Christoph, K. (2003). New Strategies and Roles for Supporting Teaching and Learning. Retrieved on 26 January, 2009, http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/powerpoint/NLI0302.pps. Urassa, P. E. (2004). Education, leadership and learning: rethinking access to learning. Retrieved on 26 January, 2009, http://www.netreed.uio.no/conferences/conf2005/ElizOrassaParadiso2005Evaluation.pdf. Read More