Principles of Educational Management

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1.7 Principles of Educational Management

A principle is a generally accepted truth, which is based on experience and the available information. Henri Fayol (1916) listed principles of management with regards to human activities, They were :

• division of work

• authority, responsibility and accountability

• discipline

• unity of command

• unity of direction

• centralisation ; decentralisation

• scalar chain (the chain of command in an organisation)

• remuneration of personnel

• subordination of individual interest to general interest

• equity

• stability of tenure of personnel

• initiatives

 

1.8 Characteristics of Good Management

The characteristics of successful school management are given in the following points :

(1) Flexibility,

(2) Practicability,

(3) Confirmity to the social and political philosophy of the country.

(4) Efficiency.

(5) Successful achievement of desired objectives.

The characteristics of school management details have been given following paragraphs :

(1) Flexibility :One of the essential characteristics of successful school management is its flexible character. The manager should be dynamic, not static; it should provide enough scope for additions and alternations. The rules and regulations should act as a means to end and not an end in themselves. Dead uniformity and mechanical efficiency is the very antithesis of good administration. The framework of administration should provide enough scope to the administrator to help the needy student, and the needy teacher, to change the time schedule to suit the weather to meet any emergency. A word of caution here. Flexibility does not means that the administration should be in a fluid condition without any specific norm or standard rules and regulations, creating confusion and chaos at every step. What is meant, is a proper balance between rigidity and elasticity.

(2) Practicability :The school management must not be a bundle of theoretical principles, but must provide practical measure to achieve the desired objectives. Whatever objective is decided it must be achievable and practicable to avoid frustration.

(3) Confirmity to the Social and Political Philosophy of the Country :There must be close connection between school management and the social and political philosophy of a country. It must adjust itself to the impact of new ideals, new patterns and new moves of the society. In an autocratic country, educational theory and practice will have to be different form that of a democratic country because education is one of the means to achieve social and political objectives. American education is decentralised and democratised whereas Chinese education is characterised by regimentation due to political philosophies of the respective countries. In India, school administration has to be democratic because of political democracy in the country.

(4) Efficiency :Successful management is that which result in maximum efficiency. This will be possible only when human and material resources are properly utilised- right man at the right place; right work at the right time, every activity and project are well planned and well executed.

(5) Successful Achievement of Desired Objectives :Successful management is one which leads to the successful achievement of desired objectives of education in a particular community e.g., healthy social living, development of good physical, social, moral, intellectual and aesthetic qualities and healthy democratic living.

School management must facilitate education. It exists for the pupil and its efficiency has to be measured by the extent to which it contributes to teaching and learning.

 

2. SWOT Introduction

SWOT Analysis is widely used in the business world but not exposed to many employees. They are used by high level management staffs. Unit is about a brief concepts of SWOT Analysis aimed to provide a basic understanding of SWOT Analysis.