Thesis-1974-Stockdale.pdf (16.34 MB)
A computable model of a college department in the further education sector with particular reference to management education
thesis
posted on 2011-02-07, 09:28 authored by Gerald StockdaleThe difficulties for a college's decision-makers in the
management of resources are manifold and give rise to complexities
dissimilar, in many respects, from those usually found in an
industrial setting. Whereas in industry pressure is generated by
what the public will buy, the pressures in education arise partly
from the rising standards of expectation of the public and partly
from the education service itself in the role of initiator. (1.0).
In addition, some industrial researchers would also assert that
the prime objective of a company is to make a profit acceptable to
shareholders. (23). The organisational structure and major activities
of the company are thus geared to the attainment of this goal. This
is not to say that other company objectives are not considered to be
important but the 'primary task' is seen'as one of profit-making.
If, then, the primary task of a company is to make profits,
it could be asked what is the primary task of a further education
college and from what point of view?
Other research has shown, for example, for a further
education college there can be wide opinion variances among students,
employers and lecturing staff about what they see as the central
purpose of the college (15). Similar findings were expressed in the
Plowden Report about the formulations of objectives by primary
school head-teachers. (Para. 497).
The model conceived in this research has re-constructed the
kind of management system in operation at many colleges in the
further education sector and made use of the linear programming
methodology to formulate objectives and constraints in the optimising
of a department's course provision. However, its chief pre-occupation
was not seen as that of optimisation in so much as focussing attention
on relevant information for decision-making. In particular, the
purpose of this kind of information is to assist such as a college
principal and departmental heads with the formulation of policy relating
to staff manpower requirements in a situation where fluctuating patterns
of demand for courses occur from year to year.
History
School
- Business and Economics
Department
- Business
Publisher
© Gerald StockdalePublication date
1974Notes
A Doctoral Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy of Loughborough University.EThOS Persistent ID
uk.bl.ethos.473961Language
- en