Providing commentary on this "Journal of School Leadership's" special issue, "Constructing a Bridge Between Law and Social Justice: An Ethical Journey," has been not only a daunting task because of the complex nature of this topic but also a humbling experience because of the superior quality of these articles. At the same time, it is most…

Provides a review of the key ethical theories and relevant empirical research relating to the practice of human performance technology. Topics addressed include ethics, morals, business ethics, ethics officers, empiricism versus normative ethical theory, consequentialism, utilitarianism, nonconsequentialism, Kohlberg model of cognitive moral…

Various concepts from "In Search of Excellence" are described in context of authors' personal styles. Discussions address thinking in terms of options, using statistics, learning value of corporate politics, a bias toward action, productivity through people, the "lean-machine" concept, staying close to client, entrepreneurship…

This paper delineates six attributes of an ideal high school governance structure: respect, freedom, rationality, flexibility, equality, and involvement of staff and students in the decision-making process. (Author/SJL)

A discussion of the usefulness of reasoning, as compared to experience, in three levels of decision making in school management informs this critique of the state of educational management theory and research. (MJL)

Few administrators fail to become leaders because they lack technical skills. The problem is lack of people skills and inability to exercise good judgment. Administrators can minimize failure by valuing honesty, objectivity, delegation, and feedback and by respecting chain of command and the limitations of power. Other potential pitfalls are…

The practices of program budgeting, costing, and strategic planning in higher education are examined. It is suggested that many postsecondary administrators and other groups have viewed a particular technique as the answer to their problems and converted a valid management technique into a management fad. Program budgeting, a system whereby the…

Several principles of management that have long been discussed and implemented in business now are being debated by educators, says the author. This article discusses many of these management principles, such as goal development and decision making, accountability, and objectives-based instructional programs, and their applications for classroom…

Management development and training is a vehicle to help make higher education management more professional by working with institutions' own managers on institutional problems. An integrated, systematic program for management development created by the Higher Education Management Institute and the Exxon Education Foundation is recommended. (MSE)

Instances from case studies of comprehensive schools in the United Kingdom show that cultural influences restrict possibilities of "rational" action by educational leaders. This article warns against business theory and concludes that we need to know more about how people in schools make choices. (Author/TE)

The author explores the arena of decision making peculiar to school administrators. Dilemmas confronting school principals are discussed: (1) conflicting expectations and demands; (2) adversary position of the principal; (3) simultaneous dual interpretations of the school systems; and (4) duality of goals of the educational organization. Modes of…

Discusses student support systems in distance education based on experiences at the Open University (United Kingdom). Topics addressed include distance education versus traditional education; changes in the learning process; management theory; student support as a service industry; course production; resource allocation; and decision-making…

Viable reading education programs require faculty who not only know the field but also remain sensitive to the many forces controlling program survival. A program will function well only if the administration clearly articulates the management process, responds intelligently to market trends, and includes faculty input in decision making. Among…

Describes the restructuring of the Samford University (Alabama) library based on Total Quality Management principles and discusses results of the reorganization. Selection of a planning committee is discussed; techniques for refining objectives and decision making are described; and the assessment of professional and support staff needs is…

With changing social and economic realities, certain cultural differences in the management of Hispanic workers must be accepted and accommodated in the American workplace, where the scientific approach to management is the general rule. The scientific view of management is hardly accepted by Latin Americans whose management philosophy is more…