• Login
    View Item 
    •   Research Bank Home
    • Study Areas
    • Education
    • Education Dissertations and Theses
    • View Item
    •   Research Bank Home
    • Study Areas
    • Education
    • Education Dissertations and Theses
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Financial decision making in four New Zealand secondary schools

    Watson, Neil

    Thumbnail
    Share
    View fulltext online
    Neil Watson_2013-08-08.pdf (1.066Mb)
    Date
    2013
    Citation:
    Watson, N. (2013). Financial decision making in four New Zealand secondary schools. (Unpublished document submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Educational Leadership and Management). Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10652/2338
    Permanent link to Research Bank record:
    https://hdl.handle.net/10652/2338
    Abstract
    This study investigates financial decision making in four mid to low decile Auckland secondary schools. Before the advent of education administration reforms in the late 1980’s state schools in New Zealand had little exposure to financial management practices. Currently there is little research examining financial decision making in the New Zealand secondary school setting. This study adopted a qualitative approach in the form of a study of the four schools. Participants were involved through semi-structured interviews of each of the principals and a questionnaire for the middle managers. Four research questions guided this study: What kind of financial decisions do educational leaders make in relation to resourcing teaching and learning? What strategies are used by educational leaders when making financial decisions? How are financial decisions evaluated by educational leaders? What are the issues and challenges facing educational leaders when making financial decisions? The findings revealed four key themes; firstly the devolvement of financial decision making to the principal and middle managers; secondly the impact of financial decision making on the role of the educational leader; thirdly the constraints around financial decision making and finally the limitations in the evaluation of financial decision making. The implication is that financial decision making is a significant and crucial aspect of the educational leader’s role. A further implication is the importance of establishing robust practises to evaluate financial decisions to ensure that resources allocated are benefiting student achievement. Recommendations that emerge from this study are based around increasing the amount of discretion available to better cater for diversity, in particular this needs to occur at the middle management level. The evaluation of financial decisions should be based on both the capacity of the school and also importantly the impact on student achievement. Financial decision making is an important aspect of the educational leaders’ role and thorough training is needed for both principals and middle managers.
    Keywords:
    New Zealand secondary schools, middle level leaders, financial decisions, mid to low decile, financial management
    ANZSRC Field of Research:
    130106 Secondary Education
    Degree:
    Master of Educational Leadership and Management
    Supervisors:
    Cardno, Carol
    Rights:
    This digital work is protected by copyright. It may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use: Any use you make of these documents or images must be for research or private study purposes only, and you may not make them available to any other person. You will recognise the author's and publishers rights and give due acknowledgement where appropriate.
    Metadata
    Show detailed record
    This item appears in
    • Education Dissertations and Theses [163]

    Library home
    Send Feedback
    Research publications
    Unitec
    Moodle
    © Unitec Institute of Technology, Private Bag 92025, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142
     

     

    Usage

    Downloads, last 12 months
    19
     
     

    Usage Statistics

    For this itemFor the Research Bank

    Share

    About

    About Research BankResearch at UnitecContact us

    Help for authors  

    How to add researchOpen Access GuideVersions Toolkit

    Register for updates  

    LoginRegister

    Browse Research Bank  

    EverywhereAcademic study areasAuthorDateSubjectTitleType of researchSupervisorThis CollectionAuthorDateSubjectTitleType of researchSupervisor

    Library home
    Send Feedback
    Research publications
    Unitec
    Moodle
    © Unitec Institute of Technology, Private Bag 92025, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142