Are you planning to be a school manager in the future? How prepared are you in terms of management skills and work values? Now that you are honing up your skills as Teacher I, II, III or even as a Master Teacher or a Department Head, you must realize that to be a school manager there are so many things to be considered. First of all, you must know what management is, and the basic types of skills that a school manager should know. He/she must also realize what an organization means and the factors surrounding it.

                According to Torio (2012), Management is the art of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively. While Bagtas (2003) stressed that an educator and business executive has identified three basic types of management skills – the technical, human and conceptual types which she says are needed by all managers. It is suggested that although all three of these skills are essential to effective management, their relative importance to a particular manager depends on his or her rank in the organization.

                On the other hand, according to Young (2006), organization bound everywhere. It is found in the smallest association of society, the family, to the largest corporation, for example the government. Organization is the fundamental framework of any group or groups of individual who are bound together by common goals. An aspirant for the position of school principal must be ready and prepared to analyze and handle the dimensions of an organization: the structure, the system and the people.

                Structure is the configurative design of an organization. It is the relationship between and among its different parts. It consists of essential organizational elements namely, hierarchy of authority, division of labor span of control, line versus staff functions and decentralization. These dimensions make sure that organizational activities are implemented correctly, that there is no overlapping of activities, and that they are performed efficiently and effectively.

                While system, another dimension of organization, is a framework that illustrates the combination of interconnected and organized components with the end purpose of achieving a specific goal, while people, which is the third dimension of an organization, is the lifeblood of an organization. Individual, group, or inter-group, people are the means to the realization of organizational goals. Hence, there is the need to develop, empower them and encourage their involvement. This can be actualized through development of self-understanding, value and attitudinal enhancement, time and stress management, and career planning.

                In summary, taking the knowledge in handling an effective organization it should be remembered that an organization consists of well-defined structure, efficient systems and highly-motivated people.

                Are you now ready to hone up you managerial skills and face the challenge of leading, planning, organizing, goal setting, communicating and controlling?

References:

                Young, Felina C. Organization Development Made Simple-ABIVA Publishing House, Quezon City.2006

                Bagtas, A. C. Educational Management Competence Of the Public Elementary School Principals I(Unpublished Master’s Thesis, BPSU, Graduate Studies Consortium, 2003)

By: Mercelina Q. Sanggalang | Teacher III | Luakan National High School | Dinalupihan, Bataan