Time and Administritis
Administritis is a disease of organisations characterized by severe
inflammation of red tape and paperwork which prevents people from doing their
real work.
The 1st law of Bureaucracy is that ‘work expands to fill the time available’
and that, therefore, if you want a job done quickly, give it to a busy person.
It is also said that procrastination is the petty thief of time but that bad
administration is the mastermind behind all time theft.
The Secondary Education Advisory Service
|
Primary Task |
to improve the teaching/ learning process |
Goal |
|
Secondary Tasks |
to plan how to do the work |
Strategic Planning |
|
to organise that support is available |
Action Planning |
|
to monitor and evaluate to ensure the 3Es |
Development/ Evolution |
|
to report on progress |
Accountability/ feedback/ call for resources |
The prime task of management/ administration is to reduce the time and effort
required for Secondary Tasks such that they can be used for the Primary Task.
This involves working smarter.
How to Work Smarter:
|
|
Theory |
Examples |
|
1 |
take time to make good decision rules so that actual decisions can be
made quickly and easily |
|
| 2 |
develop standardized systems for routine tasks |
|
| 3 |
delegate routine administrative tasks to clerical staff so that
professionals can use their time on professional tasks |
|
| 4 |
take time initially to understand and master key skills and routines so
that time is not wasted later |
|
| 5 |
Study the concepts of time management (of self and others) and put them
into practice - e.g. |
|
| - keep a diary with rolling ‘to do’ lists |
|
| - learn how to manage interruptions |
|
| - use meetings effectively |
|
| 6 |
make time for regular reflection sessions (self and group) to ensure
that you are still heading in the correct direction |
|
|