The pursuits of efficiency and effectiveness are important
functions of organization leadership. But the singular pursuit of one invariably
leads to the abandonment of the other.
This is best explained by the following three statements.
1. All
things being equal, efficient is better than inefficient.
2. All
things being equal, effective is better than ineffective
3. All
things are never equal.
For example, it would be efficient to educate students by
cramming as many as can fit into a room and show them instructional videos on a
big screen. Mass instruction is provided with a minimal expenditure of
resources.
Effective? No. Efficient? Most definitely.
It would be effective to educate students individually. Each
student gets her own certified teacher for one-on-one instruction. All day,
every day. Provide the teacher working one-on-one
with the student access to all the instructional resources necessary to
maximize the educational attainment of her one student. Maximum student
performance is provided with significant expenditure of resources.
Efficient? No. Effective? Yes.
The art is to find the balance. The intersection of the two
curves, the point where both efficiency and effectiveness are in stasis. Do
this and you won’t be a political darling (the current crop of politicians
being proponents of school financial efficiency, human costs be damned). You
won’t be a media darling (the media loves the group of kids that widely exceed
expectations story, who cares if the results can be replicated).
Instead what you will be is a true agent of meaningful change. Building an organization that invests
resources, adds value and enhances the lives of many.
Visit Classrooms… Beat Cancer!
Your turn...
- Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for
Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5
- Upcoming Conference
Presentations: The National Principals Conference; The Fundamental 5 National
Summit (Keynote)
- Now at the Apple App
Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked
Formative Observation Tool)
- Follow Sean Cain and LYS
on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation and like Lead
Your School on Facebook
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