Administrators Solving the Problems of Practice: Decision-Making Concepts, Cases, and Consequences

by Wayne K. Hoy, C. Tarter

Tested in hundreds of classrooms, this text is a student favorite that brings eight classical models of decision making to life, creating useful tools in developing strategies to solve real-life problems. The frameworks include; classical, administrative, incremental, mixes scanning, political, and garbage can models as well as two models of shared decision making. After illustrating the use of these decision-making models to analyze and develop solution strategies, students have the opportunity to explore about fifty actual cases to build their own analyses and solution strategies. New, contemporary cases have been added to this edition throughout the text as well as a final chapter that encourages cooperative learning by incorporating a comprehensive case study to be handled as a group project.

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not big on the decision making models in this book, but what made the text worth it for me was the case studies, up until Chapter Eight they were very strong and thought provoking. They become less detailed beginning in Chapter Eight, but they are still valuable for the purpose of this book: the learn how to make decisions and solve problems.
I would skip the decision making portion and focus on the case studies on this one.

[Abbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fairly insignificant. The graphs / charts are valuable, but they capture everything in the narrative. This could be a 20 page pamphlet.

[Erica Sonzogni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The case studies that administrators of all kinds have to handle on a daily basis were fascinating, even though they did give me anxiety while reading when thinking I might have to deal with these situations in the future. There was a lot of theory around how administrators solve problems with various methods in order to do so. I feel that the book made problem solving more technical than reality; when faced with a crisis or decision, there are many experts involved and administrators base their actions on education, background knowledge and experience, and what would best help the students in their buildings.