MANAGING SCHOOLS like businesses is a radical phenomenon that has shown inspiring potential in helping Jamaican schools boost their performance and achieve singularity of vision.
The concept utilises the implementation of the Balanced Scorecard, which is a management and measurement tool that enables organisations to clarify their vision and strategy and translate them into action.
The tool was introduced to Jamaica and the region by group process facilitators, Growth Facilitators which brought Dr. Robert Kaplan, co-architect of the Balanced Scorecard to Jamaica in 2003. The tool is used primarily in business related environments and has so far been implemented in more than seven high schools in the Kingston and St. Andrew area.
By utilising a participatory and collective approach to developing and meeting specific objectives, schools like businesses are able to achieve breakthrough performance.
The Balanced Scorecard allows schools the opportunity to achieve excellence through the development of focused strategic plans. This approach ensures that the school's activities are concentrated around achieving specific goals that will help the institution reach its vision and mission.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
Once a school's vision, mission and core values are articulated clearly by the school community, representatives from all stakeholder groups (teachers, students, alumni and community groups) develop strategic objectives. To achieve the objectives, key action steps are then defined. Measures are established to track whether the school is reaching its objectives; and in alignment with these measures, targets (the school's desired performance) are established.
Support from all the key stakeholders is essential; however, one of the fundamental elements of the initiative is proactive leadership.
