The continuing importance of data analytics is not lost on higher education leaders, who face a multitude of challenges, including increasing operating costs, dwindling state support, limits to tuition increases, and increased competition from the for-profit sector. To navigate these challenges, savvy leaders must leverage data to make sound…

A game centering on interpersonal, curricular, and organizational decisions similar to those that a principal might make during a school year. Includes everything (except markers and a die) needed for playing the game. (Author/IRT)

Describes the experience of a district public relations director who, upon returning from a sabbatical leave, discovered an ambitious high-tech assistant had reprogramed the public relations department. The director was faced with resolving conflicts with his employees and handling his new opponent as well. (CJH)

School executives can use a technique borrowed from business, "Strategic Planning," to introduce change and improvements into schools. (MLF)

Describes a high school principal's experience when he decided to hold a political office and purchase a newspaper. He eventually abandoned all three roles and took a central office position, because "too many hats" restricted his effectiveness. The question is raised about the limits educators should place on community leadership involvement.…

The author gives illustrative examples of the application of creative problem solving to a variety of problems facing educational administrators. Sections address the areas of organization, finance, public relations, professional growth, curriculum, extracurricular activities, and stress management. (SW)

Certain aspects of decision theory provide guidelines for the principal who wants to manage meetings more effectively and avoid unnecessary ones. (Author/WD)

Effective administrative decisions result from the continuous and systematic appraisal of past decisions and of current conditions. Forty observations that may guide secondary school administrators in assessing and improving the effectiveness of their own decision-making processes are presented in this publication. Each observation is accompanied…

Problem solving and decision making are considered to be keys to successful management. A normative method for problem solving is presented, suggesting that the analysis of the problem be structured along a five-step procedure: problem identification, analysis, decision alternatives, decision making, and decision implementation. Follow-up…

Principals should perform functions in three major areas: (1) interpersonal relationships (leader, figurehead, liaison); (2) information processing (disseminator, spokesperson); and (3) decision making (change agent, disturbance handler, resource allocator, negotiator, and evaluator). (CL)

The author presents ideas on what the school administrator should know in order to successfully manage conflict situations so that the conflict does not impede school functioning, and suggests that proper handling of the inevitable conflict situations that arise can bring about group cohesiveness and unity. (KC)

Examples are given of how United States universities are being affected by and coping with the declining revenues accompanying the current recession. The role of business officers in providing the facts, information, and guidance needed by an administration making retrenchment decisions is discussed. (DB)

An Urban Affairs Supervisor sarcastically presented suggestions for use by administrators in developing their professional polish. (RK)

Basic recommendations for the principal attempting to establish productive community relationships. (Author/MLF)

A "devil's advocacy" approach is proposed for the management of higher education conflict and ultimate improvement in the quality of decisions. Research supporting the value of active questioning of a preferred plan or strategy is summarized and its application is described. (DB)