On the Management of People. NACUBO Professional File. Vol. 7, No. 6

Many people tend to think of the economic problems of higher education as fiscal concern--as a business office problem in financial management. But the full scope of improvements needed in resources management to make higher education more cost-effective is much broader than mere financial control. A central part of resources management must deal with the human resources that organizations utilize. Although it is accepted as a truism that people are the most valuable resources in organizations--and particularly is this true of educational institutions--people are typically the most wasted resource. The people in our institutions are neglected and underutilized. Inadequate attention is paid to their motivation and development; more attention is focused on the physical plant and financial resources. Three concepts should be considered when studying the question of how well institutions of higher education organize and utilize their human resources to carry out their educational functions. These concepts, which are relevant to any deliberations on improving the management of higher education, are productivity, complexity, and accountability. (Author/KE)