Decision making in funds utilization in primary schools: A case study

Schools in the present school-based management movement are given a high degree of autonomy in funds utilization. The quality of related decision is therefore crucial to the effective functioning of schools. Responding to this, the present study aims to investigate the decision making process of funds utilization in primary schools. The sample of this case study is 5 aided primary schools, each with unique characteristics. Three different types of decision making process in funds utilization were identified. The first type is a very strict control decision making process without communication between the school heads and teachers. The second one is typified by a considerable degree of communication between the head and teachers prior to arriving at the final decisions. The last one is a loosely planned decision making process in which the head does not plan nor invites planning. All spendings are resulted from ad hoc requests of teachers. It is hoped that the findings of the study may provide insights for school administrators to reflect and choose their own decision making style in the present school-based management movement.
現行採用以學校為本管理模式的學校在經費運用方面是具有很高程度之自主權的。而有關決策模式對學校的有效運作便顯得格外重要。故此，本研究的目的是在於探討現時一些小學在運用經費方面的決策過程。
本研究選擇了五間津貼小學，每間小學各有截然不同的特點。其決策模式可歸納為三種。第一種模式是屬於嚴格控制方式。其特點是在決策過程中，校長與教師缺乏溝通。第二種模式特點是在最後決策前，校長與教師是有相當程度的溝通。而第三種模式是缺乏計劃的。在決策過程中，校長不但沒有計劃如何運用經費；也沒有向教師徵詢意見。所有經費是隨教師臨時的要求而支出。
本研究結果是希望對學校行政人員有所啟發，使他們在決策時能作出反思及選擇一種適合其學校的決策模式。 Copyright © 1994 香港中文大學香港教育研究所.