The authors write that the longer they study and work in organizations, the more they discover power to be one of the central issues which researchers and students must understand. Researchers who ignore power run the risk of spurious, irrelevant findings. Students who assume administrative positions without a proper understanding of power and how…

College and university personnel managers are urged to pay more attention to employees who operate behind the scenes by: finding a champion among them; linking work with institutional mission; hiring the best; encouraging customer service; soliciting ideas; fostering trust; enlarging responsibility; not upstaging; providing the best equipment; and…

This book illustrates how principals can simultaneously act as efficient managers and effective leaders. Through a mixture of "knowing about" and "knowing how," the book offers new strategies to help principals integrate the technical management role with the symbolic leadership role. Chapter 1 illustrates the tension between the two approaches in…

This paper provides an analysis of alternative schools that may help understand their problems and kindle future interest, together with guidelines as to how these schools might be more effectively organized. Two case studies are provided to illustrate the importance of authority patterns in these schools. (AM)

Two key principles in recognizing, empowering, and tapping the potential of "behind-the-scenes" college and university employees are discussed: finding leaders among them and linking the role of backstage employees to the core mission of the institution. A third and essential ingredient is administrative consistency in applying these principles.…

A brief introduction to organizational theory and organizational development for educational administrators is provided in this document. The first section contrasts individualistic and organizational approaches to educational problems. It is intended to give administrators two distinct perspectives for viewing day-to-day events. The second…

This guidebook presents four decision frames--political, human resource, structural, and symbolic--that can be used by administrators to understand troublesome situations, anticipate trouble before it arises, and develop more comprehensive and effective strategies for leadership. The book is presented in the form of an ongoing dialogue between a…

This book shows how educators can become more versatile managers and more artistic leaders. In part 1, chapter 1 shows why reframing--the use of multiple lenses--is vital to effective leadership and management. It introduces the four basic lenses for organizational analysis--the structural, human resource, political, and symbolic frames--and show…