This document discusses two models of decision making - the rational model and bounded rationality model. The rational model involves 6 sequential steps: 1) identifying the problem, 2) generating alternatives, 3) evaluating alternatives, 4) choosing an alternative, 5) implementing the decision, and 6) evaluating effectiveness. However, the bounded rationality model recognizes limitations in people's rationality. Decisions are made at all levels in schools and affect outcomes. Effective problem identification, consideration of alternatives, implementation, and evaluation are essential for quality decision making.
Unearthing learners' conceptions of reflection to innovate business education...Bethany Alden Rivers
1) The document discusses research into business students' conceptions of and orientations to reflection. It developed instruments to measure these and administered them to 112 business students.
2) The results showed students had mid-range orientations to reflection involving understanding concepts and examining issues from new perspectives. Their conceptions primarily involved reflection as self-evaluation and a learning tool.
3) There was no relationship found between students' orientations and conceptions. The study discusses implications for designing business curricula that enhance employability by understanding students' beliefs about reflection.
The document discusses the challenges in determining what information to include in math tournaments. It notes that students have varying levels of understanding due to differences in school curriculums, teaching styles, and how students perceive math. This makes it difficult to create tournaments that are both challenging and fair. The document suggests standardizing curriculums, focusing more on conceptual understanding than memorization, and including individual, group, and testing components in tournaments to accommodate different learning preferences.
Blackbourn, j[1]. m. postmodern eye for the education guy focus v4 n1, 2010 ...William Kritsonis
William Allan Kritsonis, PhD, Editor-in-Chief, NATIONAL FORUM JOURNALS (Founded 1982). Published in FOCUS ON COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND SCHOOLS.
Author: Dr. J.M. Blackbourn.
Dr. William Allan Kritsonis, Distinguished Alumnus, Central Washington University, College of Education and Professional Studies, Ellensburg, Washington; Invited Guest Lecturer, Oxford Round Table, University of Oxford; Hall of Honor, Prairie View A&M University/Members of the Texas A&M University System.
A learning program not only aims to make students understand and master what and how things happen, but also provide an understanding of why it happened. Thus, a lesson that emphasizes problem-solving becomes very important to teach. One form of learning that emphasizes the problem solving is to apply systematic approach to problem solving. This is a guide to perform an action that serves to assist a person in solving a problem. Problem solving steps based on systematic approach to problem solving consists of four stages, namely problem analysis, problem solving process planning, calculation operations, and checking answers and interpretation of results. This study is a classroom action research that aims to see the inceasing of student learning outcomes after applied systematic approach to problem solving. The subject of this research is 25 students of class VIIIA MTs Salafiyah Syafi'iyah Tebuireng Jombang. Instruments in this study is a matter of student learning outcomes on the material wake up space. This research was conducted in two cycles because in the second cycle has reached the indicator of success that students achieve the minimal clarity of at least 75%. The results showed that student learning outcomes in the first cycle reached 36% classical completeness, and in the second cycle of classical completeness of 84%. This shows that the application of systematic approach to problem solving can increase student learning outcomes.
This document discusses reasons why students dislike math. It explores three main ideas from literature: math anxiety, lack of motivation, and negative attitudes. Math anxiety is a negative reaction to math that can prevent students from pursuing higher-level math courses. Studies show the affective dimension of math anxiety (feelings of nervousness) correlates more strongly with negative performance than cognitive anxiety (worry). A longitudinal study found students' expectations for success in math and perceived importance of math strongly predict math anxiety and performance more than anxiety itself. A negative attitude where it is socially acceptable to not be good at math may also contribute to disliking the subject. The document seeks to understand the root causes of these issues to help change students' perspectives.
This document discusses performance assessment tasks (PATs) in secondary mathematics classrooms. PATs require students to perform tasks rather than take formal exams. The document outlines reasons why PATs are beneficial, including that they actively demonstrate student knowledge and provide improvement in instruction. Research shows PATs improve problem solving skills compared to non-PAT driven instruction. However, PATs also have drawbacks like being time-consuming and difficult to score consistently. The document provides examples of PAT types like portfolios and discusses how to construct effective PATs aligned with learning goals.
1) The study aimed to reduce statistics anxiety in undergraduate business students through instructor immediacy behaviors, peer instruction, and student tutors.
2) Students completed a statistical anxiety survey at the start and end of the course. The course design incorporated student tutors, peer instruction, and reading about the real-world applications of statistics.
3) It was hoped this approach would address anxiety related to testing, help-seeking, and the perceived worth and difficulty of statistics.
Unearthing learners' conceptions of reflection to innovate business education...Bethany Alden Rivers
1) The document discusses research into business students' conceptions of and orientations to reflection. It developed instruments to measure these and administered them to 112 business students.
2) The results showed students had mid-range orientations to reflection involving understanding concepts and examining issues from new perspectives. Their conceptions primarily involved reflection as self-evaluation and a learning tool.
3) There was no relationship found between students' orientations and conceptions. The study discusses implications for designing business curricula that enhance employability by understanding students' beliefs about reflection.
The document discusses the challenges in determining what information to include in math tournaments. It notes that students have varying levels of understanding due to differences in school curriculums, teaching styles, and how students perceive math. This makes it difficult to create tournaments that are both challenging and fair. The document suggests standardizing curriculums, focusing more on conceptual understanding than memorization, and including individual, group, and testing components in tournaments to accommodate different learning preferences.
Blackbourn, j[1]. m. postmodern eye for the education guy focus v4 n1, 2010 ...William Kritsonis
William Allan Kritsonis, PhD, Editor-in-Chief, NATIONAL FORUM JOURNALS (Founded 1982). Published in FOCUS ON COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND SCHOOLS.
Author: Dr. J.M. Blackbourn.
Dr. William Allan Kritsonis, Distinguished Alumnus, Central Washington University, College of Education and Professional Studies, Ellensburg, Washington; Invited Guest Lecturer, Oxford Round Table, University of Oxford; Hall of Honor, Prairie View A&M University/Members of the Texas A&M University System.
A learning program not only aims to make students understand and master what and how things happen, but also provide an understanding of why it happened. Thus, a lesson that emphasizes problem-solving becomes very important to teach. One form of learning that emphasizes the problem solving is to apply systematic approach to problem solving. This is a guide to perform an action that serves to assist a person in solving a problem. Problem solving steps based on systematic approach to problem solving consists of four stages, namely problem analysis, problem solving process planning, calculation operations, and checking answers and interpretation of results. This study is a classroom action research that aims to see the inceasing of student learning outcomes after applied systematic approach to problem solving. The subject of this research is 25 students of class VIIIA MTs Salafiyah Syafi'iyah Tebuireng Jombang. Instruments in this study is a matter of student learning outcomes on the material wake up space. This research was conducted in two cycles because in the second cycle has reached the indicator of success that students achieve the minimal clarity of at least 75%. The results showed that student learning outcomes in the first cycle reached 36% classical completeness, and in the second cycle of classical completeness of 84%. This shows that the application of systematic approach to problem solving can increase student learning outcomes.
This document discusses reasons why students dislike math. It explores three main ideas from literature: math anxiety, lack of motivation, and negative attitudes. Math anxiety is a negative reaction to math that can prevent students from pursuing higher-level math courses. Studies show the affective dimension of math anxiety (feelings of nervousness) correlates more strongly with negative performance than cognitive anxiety (worry). A longitudinal study found students' expectations for success in math and perceived importance of math strongly predict math anxiety and performance more than anxiety itself. A negative attitude where it is socially acceptable to not be good at math may also contribute to disliking the subject. The document seeks to understand the root causes of these issues to help change students' perspectives.
This document discusses performance assessment tasks (PATs) in secondary mathematics classrooms. PATs require students to perform tasks rather than take formal exams. The document outlines reasons why PATs are beneficial, including that they actively demonstrate student knowledge and provide improvement in instruction. Research shows PATs improve problem solving skills compared to non-PAT driven instruction. However, PATs also have drawbacks like being time-consuming and difficult to score consistently. The document provides examples of PAT types like portfolios and discusses how to construct effective PATs aligned with learning goals.
1) The study aimed to reduce statistics anxiety in undergraduate business students through instructor immediacy behaviors, peer instruction, and student tutors.
2) Students completed a statistical anxiety survey at the start and end of the course. The course design incorporated student tutors, peer instruction, and reading about the real-world applications of statistics.
3) It was hoped this approach would address anxiety related to testing, help-seeking, and the perceived worth and difficulty of statistics.
Dr. Fred C. Luenburg, Published in SCHOOLING, NATIONAL FORUM JOURNALS, www.na...William Kritsonis
Dr. Fred C. Luenburg, Published in SCHOOLING, NATIONAL FORUM JOURNALS, www.nationalforum.com, Dr. William Allan Kritsonis, Editor-in-Chief, Houston, Texas
Dr. Glenn's Holistic Thinking Pyramid is a five-tier model for integrating different types of thinking. [1] It aims to explore why some people achieve more than others. [2] The pyramid's five levels progress from basic thinking using instincts to interpretive thinking that connects past, present and future abstract and concrete concepts. [3] As educational leaders, we must embrace holistic thinking to address societal problems by thinking beyond typical approaches.
This document provides an overview of the content management system Drupal. It discusses that Drupal is free and open source, has many features, and is highly extensible. It also lists some killer features like CCK, Views, Organic Groups, and Taxonomy. Examples of large organizations using Drupal include The White House and NASA.
Six year seven classes and six year eight classes with about 327 students attended the school. The document provides a brief overview of the number of classes and students at a school, broken down by year levels. It reports that there were six year seven classes, six year eight classes, and approximately 327 total students throughout the school.
This marketing plan outlines strategies for a venue called 26 West that hosts conferences, banquets, private parties, shows, and weddings. It discusses target markets like individuals, businesses, and organizations. It performs a SWOT analysis and discusses the marketing mix of product, price, place, and promotion. Control procedures and an action program budget are also included.
This phenomenological study investigated the lived experiences of 6 African American women in predominantly white doctoral programs in educational leadership. The findings showed the women dealt with issues like discrimination from white professors and a sense of white privilege/entitlement from white students. However, they thrived due to mentoring from black professors and bonding with black students. The study aims to give voice to these women's experiences and help universities support minority students and reduce feelings of marginalization.
Intentions, Processes and Frameworks for ChangeSami Nerenberg
This lecture discusses the Law of Unintended Consequences, the importance of understanding your user to avoid typical pitfalls, frameworks for creating change, and adding the notion that moral capabilities are needed for an effective leader.
Este documento propone la creación de un Colaboratorio en el Instituto de la Vivienda de la Universidad de Chile para promover la investigación, docencia y extensión de manera colaborativa. El Colaboratorio serviría como un punto de encuentro e intercambio de información para académicos, investigadores, estudiantes y público en general. También se propone desarrollar una comunidad de práctica para generar conocimiento de forma colaborativa. El objetivo es articular mejor las actividades del Instituto y fortalecer la producción y
A woman was born in Tainan, Taiwan and moved to Taipei with her parents as a child. She grew up, got an education, found a job, and married. After having two children, she was busy balancing work and family. However, she found that learning new things made her happy. She took classes in haircutting, public relations, and English. For work, she was a manager at Taiwan Handicraft Promotion Center. In her free time, she enjoyed walking, various types of music, and learning. She believed you are never too old to learn.
Dr. Jessica Garrett-Staib and James Johnson, International Journal of Educat...William Kritsonis
Dr. Jessica Garrett-Staib and James Johnson, International Journal of Education, 2(1) 2014.
Recently, attention has been focused on analyzing the ethical framework used by educational leaders. The purpose of this study was to analyze some specific ethical dilemmas faced by a school district and one of its teachers. Several ethical questions are posed stemming from an allegation of inappropriate music videos found on Mr. Jones’ personal computer hard drive. Ethical principles such as equal respect, benefit maximization, the ethic of care, the ethic of justice, and consequentialist and nonconsequentialist viewpoints are used to justify opposing answers to these questions. Mr. Jones’ case illustrates the value of establishing a clear ethical framework to guide personal and professional decisions that may arise from technology-related issues.
FASTTRACK HR SERVICES is an Indian recruitment and human resources firm founded in 2009. The company provides recruitment and talent acquisition services across various industries like IT, BPO, manufacturing, and financial services. The firm's guiding principles are integrity, profit through value addition, and prioritizing people. It has a team of recruitment professionals across multiple locations in India and Singapore. Some of FASTTRACK HR SERVICES' major clients include Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Communications, HDFC, and Quick Heal Technologies. The company handles recruitment for various roles including managers, engineers, finance professionals and sales executives.
This document lists New Zealand school holiday dates and public holidays from December 2009 through January 2011. It notes that the summer school holidays run from mid-December 2009 through the end of January 2011, with other breaks occurring around Easter in April 2010 and over July and September/October of 2010. National holidays include Waitangi Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, ANZAC Day, Queen's Birthday, and Christmas/New Year's days.
The document discusses the evolution of the internet from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 and defines key concepts of social media and how it has changed how knowledge is created and shared. It provides examples of common social media tools like blogs, social networking sites, RSS feeds, podcasts/vodcasts, widgets, and mashups. It argues that social media is important for connecting people, information and collaboration and is becoming essential for civic engagement and volunteering.
This document discusses using assistive technology to help students with autism. It describes using digital picture cues as visual aids for students who are visual learners, rely on adults, and learn sequentially. Data is presented showing that for one student named Matthew, using picture cues to prompt replacing a trash bag and taking it to the dumpster reduced the number of needed prompts from adults and increased his ability to complete steps independently.
Get the most out of your LinkedIn Profile for Digital Enterprise ProgramRhys Moult
Get the most out of your LinkedIn Profile.
LinkedIn is growing by 30000 Australians every week. Connect your social media services. Tweet from linkedIn. Get a LinkedIn company page.
School administrators make many types of decisions that impact students, faculty, and the overall organization. While the rational model of decision-making involves identifying problems, generating alternatives, evaluating options, choosing a solution, implementing it, and evaluating outcomes, administrators often use bounded rationality due to constraints. They may satisfice by choosing acceptable rather than optimal options. Heuristics like availability, representativeness, and anchoring biases also influence decisions. Contextual rationality and procedural rationality further shape the decision process, and intuition plays a role alongside rational approaches.
Dr. Fred C. Luenburg, Published in SCHOOLING, NATIONAL FORUM JOURNALS, www.na...William Kritsonis
Dr. Fred C. Luenburg, Published in SCHOOLING, NATIONAL FORUM JOURNALS, www.nationalforum.com, Dr. William Allan Kritsonis, Editor-in-Chief, Houston, Texas
Dr. Glenn's Holistic Thinking Pyramid is a five-tier model for integrating different types of thinking. [1] It aims to explore why some people achieve more than others. [2] The pyramid's five levels progress from basic thinking using instincts to interpretive thinking that connects past, present and future abstract and concrete concepts. [3] As educational leaders, we must embrace holistic thinking to address societal problems by thinking beyond typical approaches.
This document provides an overview of the content management system Drupal. It discusses that Drupal is free and open source, has many features, and is highly extensible. It also lists some killer features like CCK, Views, Organic Groups, and Taxonomy. Examples of large organizations using Drupal include The White House and NASA.
Six year seven classes and six year eight classes with about 327 students attended the school. The document provides a brief overview of the number of classes and students at a school, broken down by year levels. It reports that there were six year seven classes, six year eight classes, and approximately 327 total students throughout the school.
This marketing plan outlines strategies for a venue called 26 West that hosts conferences, banquets, private parties, shows, and weddings. It discusses target markets like individuals, businesses, and organizations. It performs a SWOT analysis and discusses the marketing mix of product, price, place, and promotion. Control procedures and an action program budget are also included.
This phenomenological study investigated the lived experiences of 6 African American women in predominantly white doctoral programs in educational leadership. The findings showed the women dealt with issues like discrimination from white professors and a sense of white privilege/entitlement from white students. However, they thrived due to mentoring from black professors and bonding with black students. The study aims to give voice to these women's experiences and help universities support minority students and reduce feelings of marginalization.
Intentions, Processes and Frameworks for ChangeSami Nerenberg
This lecture discusses the Law of Unintended Consequences, the importance of understanding your user to avoid typical pitfalls, frameworks for creating change, and adding the notion that moral capabilities are needed for an effective leader.
Este documento propone la creación de un Colaboratorio en el Instituto de la Vivienda de la Universidad de Chile para promover la investigación, docencia y extensión de manera colaborativa. El Colaboratorio serviría como un punto de encuentro e intercambio de información para académicos, investigadores, estudiantes y público en general. También se propone desarrollar una comunidad de práctica para generar conocimiento de forma colaborativa. El objetivo es articular mejor las actividades del Instituto y fortalecer la producción y
A woman was born in Tainan, Taiwan and moved to Taipei with her parents as a child. She grew up, got an education, found a job, and married. After having two children, she was busy balancing work and family. However, she found that learning new things made her happy. She took classes in haircutting, public relations, and English. For work, she was a manager at Taiwan Handicraft Promotion Center. In her free time, she enjoyed walking, various types of music, and learning. She believed you are never too old to learn.
Dr. Jessica Garrett-Staib and James Johnson, International Journal of Educat...William Kritsonis
Dr. Jessica Garrett-Staib and James Johnson, International Journal of Education, 2(1) 2014.
Recently, attention has been focused on analyzing the ethical framework used by educational leaders. The purpose of this study was to analyze some specific ethical dilemmas faced by a school district and one of its teachers. Several ethical questions are posed stemming from an allegation of inappropriate music videos found on Mr. Jones’ personal computer hard drive. Ethical principles such as equal respect, benefit maximization, the ethic of care, the ethic of justice, and consequentialist and nonconsequentialist viewpoints are used to justify opposing answers to these questions. Mr. Jones’ case illustrates the value of establishing a clear ethical framework to guide personal and professional decisions that may arise from technology-related issues.
FASTTRACK HR SERVICES is an Indian recruitment and human resources firm founded in 2009. The company provides recruitment and talent acquisition services across various industries like IT, BPO, manufacturing, and financial services. The firm's guiding principles are integrity, profit through value addition, and prioritizing people. It has a team of recruitment professionals across multiple locations in India and Singapore. Some of FASTTRACK HR SERVICES' major clients include Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Communications, HDFC, and Quick Heal Technologies. The company handles recruitment for various roles including managers, engineers, finance professionals and sales executives.
This document lists New Zealand school holiday dates and public holidays from December 2009 through January 2011. It notes that the summer school holidays run from mid-December 2009 through the end of January 2011, with other breaks occurring around Easter in April 2010 and over July and September/October of 2010. National holidays include Waitangi Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, ANZAC Day, Queen's Birthday, and Christmas/New Year's days.
The document discusses the evolution of the internet from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 and defines key concepts of social media and how it has changed how knowledge is created and shared. It provides examples of common social media tools like blogs, social networking sites, RSS feeds, podcasts/vodcasts, widgets, and mashups. It argues that social media is important for connecting people, information and collaboration and is becoming essential for civic engagement and volunteering.
This document discusses using assistive technology to help students with autism. It describes using digital picture cues as visual aids for students who are visual learners, rely on adults, and learn sequentially. Data is presented showing that for one student named Matthew, using picture cues to prompt replacing a trash bag and taking it to the dumpster reduced the number of needed prompts from adults and increased his ability to complete steps independently.
Get the most out of your LinkedIn Profile for Digital Enterprise ProgramRhys Moult
Get the most out of your LinkedIn Profile.
LinkedIn is growing by 30000 Australians every week. Connect your social media services. Tweet from linkedIn. Get a LinkedIn company page.
School administrators make many types of decisions that impact students, faculty, and the overall organization. While the rational model of decision-making involves identifying problems, generating alternatives, evaluating options, choosing a solution, implementing it, and evaluating outcomes, administrators often use bounded rationality due to constraints. They may satisfice by choosing acceptable rather than optimal options. Heuristics like availability, representativeness, and anchoring biases also influence decisions. Contextual rationality and procedural rationality further shape the decision process, and intuition plays a role alongside rational approaches.
Dr. Fred C. Lunenburg - 1]. schools as open systems schooling v1 n1 2010William Kritsonis
Dr. Fred C. Lunenburg, featured author, published in NATIONAL FORUM JOURNALS, Houston, Texas, www.nationalforum.com
Dr. William Allan Kritsonis, Editor-in-Chief, NATIONAL FORUM JOURNALS
Lununburg, fred c[1]. schools as open systems schooling v1 n1 2010William Kritsonis
The document discusses schools as open systems. [1] It describes the five basic elements of open systems - inputs, transformation process, outputs, feedback, and environment. [2] Schools take in resources like students, teachers, funding and information as inputs. [3] Through the interaction of teaching and learning, the inputs are transformed, with the goal of educating students and producing outputs like student achievement, which then provide feedback to improve the system.
This document summarizes key topics from a course on management and leadership in education. Specifically, it outlines Topic 8 which discusses decision making in schools. It describes decision making as a dynamic process that solves problems but can also create new ones. It then details the classical model of decision making as a multi-step process involving defining the problem, establishing goals, considering alternatives, and selecting the best option. Finally, it provides an overview of the assumptions behind decision making in schools and the general action cycle involved.
1. Value analysis is a step-by-step process for examining complex issues involving values and determining ethical solutions.
2. It involves presenting a dilemma, identifying value conflicts, considering alternatives, discussing consequences, evaluating evidence, and making a judgment.
3. The goal is to train individuals to rationally address ethical problems and make independent, well-reasoned decisions.
1Running head PROGRAM EVALUATION APPROACH FOR EDUCATION 6PR.docxaulasnilda
This document describes a program evaluation approach for education. It discusses Tyler's program evaluation model which focuses on establishing goals and objectives, defining objectives in terms of measurable behaviors, collecting performance data, and comparing results to objectives. It also describes key questions for the evaluation, including questions about learning challenges, corrective actions, and determining the best corrective action. Stakeholders like parents and students are also discussed as important to involve in the evaluation process. The evaluator should work with stakeholders to understand perspectives and ensure involvement.
Characterize decision making as it applies to practicing the art of leadership in schools.
List the several approaches leaders might use to make decisions in schools.
This document evaluates models and resources available in the school turnaround process. It discusses characteristics of successful principals, including recognizing student and staff achievement. It also examines methods for recruiting principals, such as traditional training programs or recruiting externally. The document then discusses characteristics of successful teachers and ways to recruit and train teachers, including creating a supportive workplace environment and mentoring programs for new teachers. It provides strategies for turnaround practices like targeted student support, extended learning time, mitigating standardized testing anxiety, incorporating student voice, and improving school climate. Finally, it discusses leveraging outside resources such as parental involvement, consulting groups, and outside support organizations.
Evaluation of Settings and Whole Systems Approacheshealthycampuses
The document discusses approaches to evaluating systems and initiatives aimed at improving wellbeing. It covers evaluating individual programs, policies, culture, and their interactions in a complex system. For policies and culture, it recommends assessing quality, understanding, enactment, and impacts on outcomes. Cultural evaluation involves measuring influencers' beliefs and actions, as well as perceptions of the culture. The document provides examples of logic models and discusses challenges like attribution. The overall aim is to build an understanding of what is working to improve wellbeing at both the individual and population level.
This document discusses decision making and delegation in leadership. It defines decision making as choosing between alternatives to achieve a desired result. Effective decision making involves identifying problems, considering alternatives, and evaluating outcomes. The document also discusses different models of decision making, such as the rational model and "muddling through" model. It outlines steps in the decision making process and factors to consider for delegation, such as trust, expertise, and acceptance of subordinates.
A power point presentaion on
What is Action Research (AR) ?
What is not Action Research ?
The Idea Behind AR
Key concepts in AR
The Cycle of AR&How to Conduct one
Significance of AR in Education
A Review Of Scientific And Humanistic Approaches In Curriculum EvaluationLori Moore
This document summarizes and compares various approaches to curriculum evaluation, including scientific/positivistic and qualitative/humanistic approaches. It provides detailed descriptions of several models of curriculum evaluation, including Provus Discrepancy Evaluation Model, Stake Congruence Contingency Evaluation Model, Stufflebeam's CIPP Model, Eisner's Connoisseurship Evaluation Model, and Stake's Responsive Evaluation Model. The document contrasts the quantitative and objective focus of scientific approaches with the qualitative and subjective focus of humanistic approaches to curriculum evaluation.
The document describes a career guidance counseling program for students in Sliven, Bulgaria. It includes exercises to help students make decisions about their education, training, career opportunities, and self-awareness. The program is structured around four areas: decision, opportunity, transition, and self-awareness. Exercises include identifying preferred working conditions and related occupations, assessing personal strengths and weaknesses, applying decision-making models to case studies, and analyzing common mistakes in choosing a profession. The goal is to help students make informed choices about their future careers through self-reflection and consideration of various factors and alternatives.
Lunenburg, fred c[1]. the principal and the school what do principals do nf...William Kritsonis
The document discusses the roles and responsibilities of school principals. It analyzes what principals do on a day-to-day basis through six perspectives: leadership functions, administrative roles, management skills, task dimensions, human resource activities, and profiles of effective vs successful administrators. The key responsibilities of principals are planning, organizing, leading, and monitoring. They work long hours at a fast pace dealing with a variety of tasks in brief interactions, primarily through oral communication. Effective principals demonstrate conceptual, human, and technical skills to fulfill their leadership, administrative and management duties.
The document outlines the process of writing an action research proposal, including defining action research, identifying the characteristics and steps in action research, and providing templates for an action research proposal. It discusses the purpose of action research as a process for educators to study problems in their own educational setting in order to improve practices. Key elements that are covered include identifying an issue to study, reviewing previous strategies, developing and implementing an intervention, analyzing findings, and making decisions on next steps.
Here are the steps I would take using a scientific decision-making model to help you make this important decision:
1. Set clear objectives - Our objectives are to decide whether I should accept the charge nurse position while also considering our family goals and responsibilities.
2. Gather relevant data - Consider details of the position, my career goals, husband's career demands, childcare options/costs, potential for future promotions if I accept, etc.
3. Identify alternatives - Accept position full-time, accept but negotiate part-time, decline position to focus on family, pursue other career options.
4. Evaluate alternatives - Use a decision matrix to rate each alternative based on objectives. Consider pros/cons of each for
A Money Problem A Source Of Insight Into Problem Solving ActionApril Smith
This study investigated the metacognitive strategies used by senior secondary students when solving mathematical problems individually. Students attempted a non-routine money division problem and completed a questionnaire about the strategies they used. The questionnaire responses revealed instances of successful self-monitoring as well as occasions where monitoring was inadequate or lacking. Analyzing different solution strategies and associated metacognitive failures highlighted the distinction between recognizing errors and obstacles, and correcting or overcoming them.
Similar to Dr. Fred C. Lunenburg, www.nationalforum.com (20)
Temple of Asclepius in Thrace. Excavation resultsKrassimira Luka
The temple and the sanctuary around were dedicated to Asklepios Zmidrenus. This name has been known since 1875 when an inscription dedicated to him was discovered in Rome. The inscription is dated in 227 AD and was left by soldiers originating from the city of Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv).
LAND USE LAND COVER AND NDVI OF MIRZAPUR DISTRICT, UPRAHUL
This Dissertation explores the particular circumstances of Mirzapur, a region located in the
core of India. Mirzapur, with its varied terrains and abundant biodiversity, offers an optimal
environment for investigating the changes in vegetation cover dynamics. Our study utilizes
advanced technologies such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and Remote sensing to
analyze the transformations that have taken place over the course of a decade.
The complex relationship between human activities and the environment has been the focus
of extensive research and worry. As the global community grapples with swift urbanization,
population expansion, and economic progress, the effects on natural ecosystems are becoming
more evident. A crucial element of this impact is the alteration of vegetation cover, which plays a
significant role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of our planet.Land serves as the foundation for all human activities and provides the necessary materials for
these activities. As the most crucial natural resource, its utilization by humans results in different
'Land uses,' which are determined by both human activities and the physical characteristics of the
land.
The utilization of land is impacted by human needs and environmental factors. In countries
like India, rapid population growth and the emphasis on extensive resource exploitation can lead
to significant land degradation, adversely affecting the region's land cover.
Therefore, human intervention has significantly influenced land use patterns over many
centuries, evolving its structure over time and space. In the present era, these changes have
accelerated due to factors such as agriculture and urbanization. Information regarding land use and
cover is essential for various planning and management tasks related to the Earth's surface,
providing crucial environmental data for scientific, resource management, policy purposes, and
diverse human activities.
Accurate understanding of land use and cover is imperative for the development planning
of any area. Consequently, a wide range of professionals, including earth system scientists, land
and water managers, and urban planners, are interested in obtaining data on land use and cover
changes, conversion trends, and other related patterns. The spatial dimensions of land use and
cover support policymakers and scientists in making well-informed decisions, as alterations in
these patterns indicate shifts in economic and social conditions. Monitoring such changes with the
help of Advanced technologies like Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems is
crucial for coordinated efforts across different administrative levels. Advanced technologies like
Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
9
Changes in vegetation cover refer to variations in the distribution, composition, and overall
structure of plant communities across different temporal and spatial scales. These changes can
occur natural.
How to Make a Field Mandatory in Odoo 17Celine George
In Odoo, making a field required can be done through both Python code and XML views. When you set the required attribute to True in Python code, it makes the field required across all views where it's used. Conversely, when you set the required attribute in XML views, it makes the field required only in the context of that particular view.
Walmart Business+ and Spark Good for Nonprofits.pdfTechSoup
"Learn about all the ways Walmart supports nonprofit organizations.
You will hear from Liz Willett, the Head of Nonprofits, and hear about what Walmart is doing to help nonprofits, including Walmart Business and Spark Good. Walmart Business+ is a new offer for nonprofits that offers discounts and also streamlines nonprofits order and expense tracking, saving time and money.
The webinar may also give some examples on how nonprofits can best leverage Walmart Business+.
The event will cover the following::
Walmart Business + (https://business.walmart.com/plus) is a new shopping experience for nonprofits, schools, and local business customers that connects an exclusive online shopping experience to stores. Benefits include free delivery and shipping, a 'Spend Analytics” feature, special discounts, deals and tax-exempt shopping.
Special TechSoup offer for a free 180 days membership, and up to $150 in discounts on eligible orders.
Spark Good (walmart.com/sparkgood) is a charitable platform that enables nonprofits to receive donations directly from customers and associates.
Answers about how you can do more with Walmart!"
Gender and Mental Health - Counselling and Family Therapy Applications and In...PsychoTech Services
A proprietary approach developed by bringing together the best of learning theories from Psychology, design principles from the world of visualization, and pedagogical methods from over a decade of training experience, that enables you to: Learn better, faster!
Beyond Degrees - Empowering the Workforce in the Context of Skills-First.pptxEduSkills OECD
Iván Bornacelly, Policy Analyst at the OECD Centre for Skills, OECD, presents at the webinar 'Tackling job market gaps with a skills-first approach' on 12 June 2024
Chapter wise All Notes of First year Basic Civil Engineering.pptxDenish Jangid
Chapter wise All Notes of First year Basic Civil Engineering
Syllabus
Chapter-1
Introduction to objective, scope and outcome the subject
Chapter 2
Introduction: Scope and Specialization of Civil Engineering, Role of civil Engineer in Society, Impact of infrastructural development on economy of country.
Chapter 3
Surveying: Object Principles & Types of Surveying; Site Plans, Plans & Maps; Scales & Unit of different Measurements.
Linear Measurements: Instruments used. Linear Measurement by Tape, Ranging out Survey Lines and overcoming Obstructions; Measurements on sloping ground; Tape corrections, conventional symbols. Angular Measurements: Instruments used; Introduction to Compass Surveying, Bearings and Longitude & Latitude of a Line, Introduction to total station.
Levelling: Instrument used Object of levelling, Methods of levelling in brief, and Contour maps.
Chapter 4
Buildings: Selection of site for Buildings, Layout of Building Plan, Types of buildings, Plinth area, carpet area, floor space index, Introduction to building byelaws, concept of sun light & ventilation. Components of Buildings & their functions, Basic concept of R.C.C., Introduction to types of foundation
Chapter 5
Transportation: Introduction to Transportation Engineering; Traffic and Road Safety: Types and Characteristics of Various Modes of Transportation; Various Road Traffic Signs, Causes of Accidents and Road Safety Measures.
Chapter 6
Environmental Engineering: Environmental Pollution, Environmental Acts and Regulations, Functional Concepts of Ecology, Basics of Species, Biodiversity, Ecosystem, Hydrological Cycle; Chemical Cycles: Carbon, Nitrogen & Phosphorus; Energy Flow in Ecosystems.
Water Pollution: Water Quality standards, Introduction to Treatment & Disposal of Waste Water. Reuse and Saving of Water, Rain Water Harvesting. Solid Waste Management: Classification of Solid Waste, Collection, Transportation and Disposal of Solid. Recycling of Solid Waste: Energy Recovery, Sanitary Landfill, On-Site Sanitation. Air & Noise Pollution: Primary and Secondary air pollutants, Harmful effects of Air Pollution, Control of Air Pollution. . Noise Pollution Harmful Effects of noise pollution, control of noise pollution, Global warming & Climate Change, Ozone depletion, Greenhouse effect
Text Books:
1. Palancharmy, Basic Civil Engineering, McGraw Hill publishers.
2. Satheesh Gopi, Basic Civil Engineering, Pearson Publishers.
3. Ketki Rangwala Dalal, Essentials of Civil Engineering, Charotar Publishing House.
4. BCP, Surveying volume 1
1. NATIONAL FORUM OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION JOURNAL
VOLUME 27, NUMBER 4, 2010
1
THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS
Fred C. Lunenburg
Sam Houston State University
________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT
Decision making is one of the most important activities in which school
administrators engage daily. The success of a school or school district is critically
linked to effective decisions. In this article, I discuss how individual decisions are
made. I describe and analyze two basic models of decision making: the rational
model and the bounded rationality model.
________________________________________________________________________
Because decision making is so important and can have such significant effects on
the operation of schools, it has been suggested that administration is decision making
(March, 2010). It would be a mistake however, to conclude that only administrators make
decisions. Increasingly, important decisions are being made in schools by non-
administrative personnel. Thus, while decision making is an important administrative
process, it is fundamentally a people process. In this article, I describe and analyze how
individual decisions are made. I begin by discussing the nature of decision making. This
is followed by a description and analysis of two basic models of decision making: the
rational model and the bounded rationality model.
The Nature of Decision Making
Decisions are made at all levels of school organization. The superintendent makes
decisions concerning a school district's goals and strategies. Then principals make tactical
decisions concerning those goals and strategies to accomplish them in relation to their
own buildings. Department heads and team leaders then make curricular and operational
decisions to carry out the day-to-day activities of a department or unit. And, finally,
classroom teachers make decisions in their classrooms.
Consider the following decisions that need to be made at different organizational
levels:
• How much inventory should be carried in the school district warehouse?
• Where should the newly proposed elementary school be located?
• Should the school district renovate the old high school or build a new one?
• How many classes of freshman English should our department offer next
semester?
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• What textbook series should the mathematics department adopt?
• Should all of our principals attend the conference on the use of technology?
• What minimum rules should I adopt in my classroom?
Questions such as these require an answer. Someone is going to have to do some decision
making in order to provide answers.
Decision making is a process of making a choice from a number of alternatives to
achieve a desired result (Eisenfuhr, 2011). This definition has three key elements. First,
decision making involves making a choice from a number of options—the school district
can carry more or less inventory of school supplies and the math department can choose
the Macmillan or McGraw-Hill math series. Second, decision making is a process that
involves more than simply a final choice from among alternatives—if the school district
decides to renovate the existing high school rather than build a new one, we want to
know how this decision was reached. Finally, the "desired result" mentioned in the
definition involves a purpose or target resulting from the mental activity that the decision
maker engages in to reach a final decision—to locate the new elementary school on the
east side of town.
Decision making is a way of life for school administrators. Although everyone in
a school makes some decisions, school administrators are paid to make decisions. Their
main responsibility lies in making decisions rather than performing routine operations.
The quality of the decisions made is a predominant factor in how the superintendent, for
example, views a principal's performance, or how a principal views a department head or
team leader’s performance. Furthermore, decision making affects the performance of a
school or school district and the welfare of its stakeholders: students, teachers, parents,
and the community.
How are Individual Decisions Made?
Now that I have discussed the nature of decision making in schools, I will now
consider the matter of how people go about making decisions. Historically scientists have
emphasized two basic models of decision making: the rational model and the bounded
rationality model (March, 2010).
The Rational Model
Administrative decision making is assumed to be rational. By this we mean that
school administrators make decisions under certainty: They know their alternatives; they
know their outcomes; they know their decision criteria; and they have the ability to make
the optimum choice and then to implement it (Towler, 2010). According to the rational
model, the decision making process can be broken down into six steps (Schoenfeld,
2011). (See Figure 1.)
3. FRED C. LUNENBURG
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Recycle
process
as
necessary
Figure 1. The decision-making process.
After a problem is identified, alternative solutions to the problem are generated.
These are carefully evaluated, and the best alternative is chosen for implementation. The
implemented alternative is then evaluated over time to assure its immediate and
continued effectiveness. If difficulties arise at any stage in the process, recycling may be
effected.
Thus, we see that decision making is a logical sequence of activities. That is,
before alternatives are generated, the problem must be identified, and so on. Furthermore,
decision making is an iterative activity. As shown in Figure 1, decision making is a
recurring event, and school administrators can learn from past decisions. The paragraphs
that follow elaborate on each of these steps and explain their interrelationships.
Identifying the problem.
Schools exist to achieve certain goals, such as educating students. Within the
school, each department or subunit has goals, such as increasing test scores, reducing
dropouts, and/or developing new approaches to teaching. Establishing these goals
becomes the basis for identifying problem areas, deciding on courses of action, and
evaluating the decision outcomes. A decision is said to be effective if it helps a school
administrator to achieve a specific objective or set of goals for the school or school
district. Failure to achieve a desired goal becomes a problem, and the school
administrator is ultimately responsible for solving it.
Effective decision makers are keenly aware of the importance of properly
identifying the problem and understanding the problem situation. Kepner and Tregoe
Identifying the problem
Generating alternatives
Evaluating alternatives
Choosing an alternative
Implementing the decision
Evaluating decision effectiveness
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(2005) developed a method of problem analysis that suggests that the first step in
decision making, identifying the problem, is the most important step. According to these
authors, providing a good definition of the problem affects the quality of the decision.
Their method suggests that it is often easier to define what the problem is not, rather than
what it is. Also, the problem—and its solution—are prioritized with other problems, to
clarify its relative importance. The final step is searching for cause-effect relationships. In
summary, their method of problem analysis includes: (1) problem identification, (2)
definition of what the problem is and is not, (3) prioritizing the problem, and (4) testing
for cause-effect relationships (Kepner & Tregoe).
The process of identifying problems requires surveillance of the internal and
external environment for issues that merit attention (Verschaffel, 2011). School
administrators scan the world around them to determine whether the school is progressing
satisfactorily toward its goals. For example, school administrators survey students,
teachers, parents, and community members using instruments to measure satisfaction,
organizational climate, and the like. Other information may come from formal
information systems, such as periodic accounting reports, Management Information
System (MIS) reports, and organizational plans designed to discover problems before
they become too serious. Or the information may be gathered informally by talking over
the situation and by personal observation. A principal, for example, might discuss a
school performance problem with teachers, the superintendent, or other principals to
obtain ideas and information. The school administrator must be plugged into an
information system, whether formal or informal, that gathers these data as a means of
identifying problems.
In addition to identifying problems, school administrators must also define the
situation, which is partly a matter of determining how a specific problem arose. This is an
important stage, because the situation definition plays a major role in subsequent steps.
Suppose, for example, that a school has had decreasing test scores for the last two years.
One principal might define this situation as the result of a changing student population in
the school attendance area and begin to search for new approaches to teaching these
students, who come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Another principal might
define the situation as a case of an inappropriate match between what is taught and what
is measured — that is, placing the blame on the achievement test being used. The
problem — declining test scores — is the same in both cases, but the two different
definitions of the situation call for two different solutions.
Generating alternatives.
Once the problem has been identified, the second step in the decision-making
process is to generate alternatives to the problem. In developing these alternative
solutions, school administrators first must specify the goals that they hope to achieve
through their decision. Are they trying to reduce the dropout rate, improve the quality of
instruction, increase test scores, or something else? Once school administrators have
determined their goals, they can search for alternative means of reaching them.
Information must be collected regarding each of the alternatives and their likely
consequences. More specifically, the school administrator must seek to learn as much as
5. FRED C. LUNENBURG
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possible concerning the likelihood that each alternative will result in the achievement of
various outcomes, and the extent to which those outcomes will contribute to the
achievement of the goals and objectives being sought.
Ideally, the school administrator should seek to generate as many alternatives as
possible and should attempt to ensure that the alternatives are relatively diverse — that is,
not highly similar to one another. The extent of the search for alternatives is limited by
the importance of the decision, the cost and value of additional information needed to
evaluate alternatives, and the number of people affected by the decision (Zopounidis,
2011a, b).
The more important the decision, the more attention is directed to developing
alternatives. For example, if the decision involves where to build a new multimillion-
dollar high school, a great deal of time and effort will be devoted to identifying the best
location. On the other hand, if the problem is to select a color to paint the classrooms in
the new high school, less time and effort will be devoted to the activity.
The length and thoroughness of the search for alternatives depends on the cost of
evaluating additional alternatives (Narayanan, 2005). For example, a 2 % improvement in
the solution of a $10 million problem may produce a profit margin of $200,000.
However, if the cost of evaluating an additional alternative is $250,000, the evaluation
costs $50,000 more than the possible savings. As a rule of thumb, the increase in the
improvement of a solution should always be more than the cost of performing the
additional evaluation of an alternative. Moreover, the greater the number of people
affected by a problem, the more likely the organization will conduct a lengthy and
thorough search for alternatives (Ehrgott, 2011). However, when dealing with complex
school problems affecting numerous people, it is often necessary to compromise on some
points. Human benefits cannot be measured in dollars and cents (Schoenfeld, 2011).
Evaluating alternatives.
The third step in the decision-making process is evaluating each of the
alternatives generated in step 2. In evaluating an alternative, school administrators must
ask the following three questions: (1) “Is the alternative feasible?" (2) "Is it a satisfactory
alternative?" (3) "What impact will it have on people?” (Grant, 2011).
The first question—whether the alternative is feasible—simply means: Can it be
done? For example, if one alternative requires a general layoff of school faculty but the
school district has a collective bargaining agreement that prohibits such layoffs, that
alternative is not feasible. Similarly, if a school district has limited capital, alternatives
that require large capital outlays are not feasible, unless funds can be borrowed to meet
the capital-outlay requirements.
The second question concerns the extent to which the alternative is satisfactory —
that is, the extent to which it addresses the problem. For instance, suppose a principal
wants to expand the curriculum by 25%. One alternative is to implement a trimester
schedule. On closer examination, however, the principal may discover that the plan
would expand the curriculum by only 15% and that such a modest expansion may also
negatively affect the quality of the program. The principal may decide to implement the
trimester plan anyway and search for other ways to achieve the remaining 10% expansion
6. NATIONAL FORUM OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION JOURNAL
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in the curriculum and find ways to maintain the quality of the program. Or he may decide
to drop the alternative from consideration entirely.
The third question addresses the impact of an alternative on school personnel. The
alternative that is chosen must be acceptable to those who must live with the
consequences of the decision. Failure to meet this condition is the single most likely
reason for failure of the decision-making process to solve problems (Hastie, 2010). For
this reason, questions of acceptability of a proposed alternative should be of great
concern to the principal. On the one hand, even a mediocre solution to the problem may
prove effective if it is implemented with enthusiasm and commitment. On the other hand,
a technically correct alternative may fail to succeed if implementation is halfhearted.
Choosing an alternative.
Once the administrator has evaluated all of the alternatives, he attempts to choose
the best alternative. The evaluation phase will have eliminated some of the alternatives,
but in most cases two or more will remain.
How does a school administrator decide which alternative is the best? One
approach is to select the alternative that is feasible, satisfactory, and acceptable to the
work group (Gilboa, 2011). Because most situations do not lend themselves to
sophisticated mathematical analysis, the school administrator uses this available
information in combination with judgment and intuition to make the decision (Mendel,
2011). The basis of judgment should be how close the outcomes or consequences of the
alternatives come to achieving the desired goals of the school. For example, if the
original goal was to decrease the dropout rate as much as possible, regardless of the costs,
the school administrator might choose an alternative that will decrease the dropout rate
significantly but that carries a high cost, rather than an alternative that would reduce
dropouts only moderately at a minimal cost. However, if the original goal was to reduce
the dropout rate by a moderate amount and if that goal is more desirable now, the second
alternative might be a better choice.
Finally, the school administrator may be able to choose several alternatives
simultaneously. Suppose, for example, a school principal is hiring an English teacher and
has two strong candidates for the position. One strategy that is frequently used is to offer
the position to one candidate and keep the other candidate on hold. Should the first offer
be rejected, the principal still has an acceptable alternative to filling the position.
Implementing the Decision
After choosing an alternative, the school administrator faces the challenge of
implementing the decision. A sound decision can fail if implemented poorly. It is useful,
therefore, to consider some suggestions for successful implementation (Ahmed, 2011).
1. School administrators need to make sure that the alternative is clearly
understood. This is accomplished by communicating the decision to all
involved staff. Effective communication is necessary for effectively
implementing decisions.
7. FRED C. LUNENBURG
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2. School administrators need to encourage acceptance of the alternative as
a necessary course of action. Committees can help a school administrator
achieve commitment. If the people who must carry out a decision
participate in the process, they are more likely to endorse enthusiastically
the outcome. Thus, the degree to which persons have or have not been
involved in prior steps may substantially affect the success of the total
decision-making process.
3. School administrators need to provide enough resources to make the
alternative succeed. School administrators set up budgets and schedules
for the actions they have decided to undertake. Specifically, the decision
may require acquiring office space, hiring staff, procuring funds, and the
like.
4. School administrators need to establish workable timelines. The school
administrator now faces a "how much" and "how soon" decision. As part
of the process of implementation, he must ask himself whether to move
forward step by step or whether to take the entire action at once.
5. School administrators need to assign responsibilities clearly. In other
words, what should be done by whom? Because the solution of most
administrative problems requires the combined effort of many school
members, each person should understand what role he or she is to play
during each phase of the implementation process.
Evaluating decision effectiveness.
The final step in the decision-making process is evaluating the effectiveness of the
decision. When an implemented decision does not produce the desired results, there are
probably a number of causes: incorrect definition of the problem, poor evaluation of
alternatives, and/or improper implementation. Among these possible causes, the most
common and serious error is an inadequate definition of the problem. When the problem
is incorrectly defined, the alternative that is selected and implemented will not produce
the desired result.
Evaluation is important because decision making is a continuous, never-ending
process. Decision making does not end when a school administrator votes yes or no.
Evaluation provides school administrators with information that can precipitate a new
decision cycle. The decision alternative may fail, thus generating a new analysis of the
problem, evaluation of alternatives, and selection of a new alternative. Some experts
suggest that many large problems are solved by attempting several alternatives in
sequence, each providing a modest improvement (Hicks, 2005). Evaluation is the part of
the decision-making process that assesses whether a new decision needs to be made.
The Bounded Rationality Model
The rational decision making model, discussed above, characterizes the decision
maker as completely rational. If a decision maker were completely rational, she would
8. NATIONAL FORUM OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION JOURNAL
8____________________________________________________________________________________
have perfect information: know all alternatives, determine every consequence, and
establish a complete preference scale. Moreover, the steps in the decision-making process
would consistently lead toward selecting the alternative that maximizes the solution to
each decision problem.
Frequently, school administrators are not aware that problems exist. Even when
they are, they do not systematically search for all possible alternative solutions. They are
limited by time constraints, cost, and the ability to process information. So they generate
a partial list of alternative solutions to the problem based on their experience, intuition,
advice from others, and perhaps even some creative thought. Rationality is, therefore,
limited. Herbert Simon (1982, 1997, 2009) coined the term bounded rationality to
describe the decision maker who would like to make the best decisions but normally
settles for less than the optimal.
In contrast to complete rationality in decision making, bounded rationality implies
the following (Simon, 1982, 1997, 2009):
1. Decisions will always be based on an incomplete and, to some degree,
inadequate comprehension of the true nature of the problem being faced.
2. Decision makers will never succeed in generating all possible alternative
solutions for consideration.
3. Alternatives are always evaluated incompletely because it is impossible to
predict accurately all consequences associated with each alternative.
4. The ultimate decision regarding which alternative to choose must be based
on some criterion other than maximization or optimization because it is
impossible to ever determine which alternative is optimal.
Satisficing.
One version of bounded rationality is the principle of satisficing. This approach to
decision making involves choosing the first alternative that satisfies minimal standards of
acceptability without exploring all possibilities. This is the usual approach taken by
decision makers (Nielsen, 2011). Simon (1997) expresses it this way: “Most human
decision making, whether individual or organizational, is concerned with the discovery
and selection of satisfactory alternatives; only in exceptional cases is it concerned with
the discovery and selection of optimal alternatives.” (pp. 140-141)
Heuristics.
When school administrators make satisficing decisions, they may use a set of
heuristics to guide their decisions. A heuristic is a rule of thumb that can help the
decision maker find a solution in a complex and uncertain situation (Moustakas, 1990).
We use heuristics in our everyday lives. For example, a heuristic rule for dealing with
other people is the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Football coaches use the rule, "When in doubt, punt." In playing chess, we follow the rule
of "controlling the center of the board." And a heuristic for investors is that if a stock
drops 10% or more below its purchased price, sell.
9. FRED C. LUNENBURG
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In the social and behavioral sciences, there are many well-known heuristics used
to make a wide variety of decisions. Some of these include the following: "The customer
is always right." "Treat employees as mature adults." "When in doubt, stick to the
business you know best.” These are all rules that help simplify complex decision-making
situations. Applying heuristics often helps school administrators make satisficing
decisions possible. But the heuristic approach, as with judgment and intuition, has a
tendency to oversimplify complex problems or introduce bias into decision making.
Primacy/recency effect.
One bias, which may affect the effectiveness of a school administrator's
information search behavior, is the primacy/recency effect. In the decision-making
process, the decision environment is searched for the following purposes: finding
problems, identifying decision alternatives, determining consequences, and developing
evaluation criteria. Although decision makers may have different strategies for these
different purposes, the decision maker is often inordinately influenced by information
discovered early in the search process (the primacy effect) or late in the search process
(the recency effect). Thus, everything else being equal, the importance attached to
information may be affected by its order in the search sequence (Brown & Moberg,
2004).
Bolstering the alternative.
Another way in which the search for information is biased and inhibits decision
optimization is the phenomenon of bolstering the alternative (Bubnicki, 2003). Even
before accumulating the information on which to base a decision, the school
administrator may prefer one alternative to all the others; the decision maker, therefore,
searches for information that rationalizes the choice. Only information that supports the
decision maker's preferred alternative is considered legitimate and acceptable.
A related bias in the search for information is the school administrator's
professional training and identification with a particular department that may also bolster
the alternative. For example, an assistant superintendent for curriculum may tend to view
most problems with a curriculum bias, regardless of their nature, and an assistant
superintendent of finance (business manager or chief financial officer) may perceive the
same problems in terms of finance. Although such biases are bound to exist, it is
important to understand that they can strongly influence a decision maker's ability to
make accurate decisions.
Intuition.
Another aspect of bounded rationality, mentioned previously, is intuition.
Intuition represents a quick apprehension of a decision situation based on past
experiences and the reinforcement associated with these experiences, which is devoid of
conscious thought (Myers, 2002). For example, when you are driving an automobile the
decision to apply the brakes is intuitive because it comes almost automatically and
10. NATIONAL FORUM OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION JOURNAL
10____________________________________________________________________________________
without reasoning. Years of driving experience have taught us precisely when to apply
the brakes. The same type of intuition often guides a school administrator's decisions.
The decision to discipline a staff member or to buy an item for inventory may be quite
intuitive for the school administrator and is based on years of experience.
Research on administrative behavior in schools is consistent in identifying the
demands on the principal as fragmented, rapid fire, and difficult to prioritize (Lunenburg
& Irby, 2006; Matthews & Crow, 2010; Sergiovanni, 2009; Ubben, Hughes, & Norris,
2011). Half of the activities of principals last less than ten minutes and only 8 percent
exceed an hour. Researchers conclude that principals are action-oriented and do not like
reflective activities. These data support the observation that much decision making is
intuitive. The fast and hectic pace of a principal's job makes the use of intuition almost a
necessity.
Incrementalizing.
Another approach to decision making, sometimes referred to as muddling
through, involves making small changes (increments) in the existing situation. Charles
Lindblom (1993), its author, distinguishes between completely rational decision making
and incrementalizing, which is based on successive limited comparisons. On the one
hand, the rational approach to decision making involves determining objectives,
considering all possible alternative solutions, exploring all conceivable consequences of
the alternative solutions, and finally choosing the optimal alternative solution that will
maximize the achievement of the agreed-on goals.
Incrementalizing, on the other hand, does not require agreement on goals, an
exhaustive search of all possible alternatives and their consequences, or selection of the
optimal alternative. Instead, Lindblom argues that no more than small or incremental
steps, that is, “muddling through”, is all that is possible. In other words, incrementalizing
is a process of successive limited comparisons of alternative courses of action with one
another until decision makers arrive at an alternative on which they agree.
The garbage-can model.
Earlier we noted that while school administrators want to make optimal decisions,
the realities of organizational life — including politics, time constraints, finances, and the
inability to process information — limit purely rational decision making. Applying
rational decision making is particularly troublesome for schools. The technologies of
teaching are varied and not well understood. Moreover, schools have multiple and
conflicting goals that are vague and ambiguous. And schools lack clearly defined success
criteria (Fullan, 2010; Lunenburg & Ornstein, 2008). Thus, problems and solutions
cannot be translated easily into a logical sequence of steps (rational decision-making
model).
In accordance with this view, David Cohen, James March, and Johan Olsen
(1972) conceptualized this decision-making process as a garbage-can model. As
members of a school or school district generate problems and alternative solutions to
problems, they deposit them into the garbage can. The mixture is seen as a collection of
11. FRED C. LUNENBURG
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solutions that must be matched to problems. Participants are also deposited into the
garbage can. Mixing problems, solutions, and decision participants’ results in interaction
patterns leading to decisions that often do not follow purely rational decision making.
Conclusion
Decision making is one of the most important activities in which school
administrators engage daily. The success of a school is critically linked to effective
decisions. Decision making is a process involving choices. The process generally consists
of several steps: identifying problems, generating alternatives, evaluating alternatives,
choosing an alternative, implementing the decision, and evaluating decision
effectiveness.
Two major approaches to decision making have been identified. The rational
model characterizes decision makers as completely rational - searching through perfect
information to make optimal decisions. The inherent imperfections of decision makers
and the social and organizational systems in which they are imbedded impose limitations
on decision makers' ability to process information needed to make complex decisions
(bounded rationality) that restrict decision makers to finding solutions that are less than
optimal.
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