EXAMINING THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS ON DECISION-MAKING STYLE PATTERNS AMONG SCHOOL PRINCIPALS: A STUDY

Abstract

Managers carry out decision-making using different processes (Nutt, 1990). For example, some managers are results-oriented and impersonal, relying on facts and figures to make decisions. Other managers are sensitive and responsive to the needs and feelings of others and make decisions cognizant of their impact on people. Still others are planners who rely on careful analysis before making decisions, while others are creative, innovative, and take risks, depending more on intuition than on fact (Mech, 1993). The ABCD of decision-making behaviour: Analytical, Behaviour, Conceptual and Directive are exhibited in individuals at the Decision Making level of institutions and organisations. They play the pivotal role, since their decisions are crucial for the smooth internal and external functioning of the organisation. For educational institutions, Principals are the axle around whom the whole system of the institution functions. But the Decision Making styles and behaviour of Principals of all the institutions is not homogenous. The behaviour is based on various socio-economic factors. That is the reason a study was conducted among the school Principals of Kanniyakumari district. The objectives of the study is to understand the various demographic features of the Principals and consequently to analyse the relationship between the socio-economic factors and Decision Making behaviour of the Principals. The study has adopted statistical tools like Simple Percentage analysis, Coorelation and Chi-Square test to achieve the objectives of the study.

Key words: Decision Making behaviour, Analytical, Behaviour, Conceptual, Directive