Business School Management: Diverse Issues in Africa

Business School Management

Business schools in African countries are mostly operated under the conventional university system, hence under the same management and control. In broad terms, business school management is the process of effectively locating and utilizing resources through careful planning, organization and supervision of those resources in order to accomplish set goals. The term management and administration may be used interchangeably in the school setting. However, there are slight dissimilarities between them. Administration is more of a daily affair and involves tasks performance. Management is broader and involves setting goals which are achieved through daily accomplishment of tasks. Within the school system, there are different categories of people which the administrator (manager) must work with and through to get things done effectively. These people have to be involved in the management process from planning stage. The main purpose of business school management is to fully utilize both human and material resources thus enabling members of staff (Business Educators) and their students to work in cooperation with management staff as a team for the achievement of desired goals and objectives. The goals and objectives of business schools and business education center on the teaching and learning process using a well-designed business education curriculum which can impact positively on students and prepare them for self-reliance and sustainability. In order to achieve set objectives/goals of the business schools/business education through effective management, certain variables should be carefully manipulated. These include:

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  The organizational structure/communication.

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  Record keeping/documentation, documents and information management.

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  Inspection and supervision.

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  Leadership qualities and styles/administration.

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  Finance.

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  Role of government and voluntary agencies.

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  Staff personnel management.

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  Students–personnel management.

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  Discipline.

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  Classroom organization and management.

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  Organization of business education curriculum.

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  Business school/business education and the business community.

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  Management of business school plant.

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  Evaluation of business education program.

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  Education laws/policies and business education management