Generalizing Personnel Training Models Used in Business and Industry to School Settings.

In education, as in business, management is concerned with three production factors: human resources, finances, and technology. Differences between the education and business spheres become apparent when a comparison is made of the installation of a new piece of engineering equipment with the orientation of a new teacher. If as much care was taken by school administrators in preparing the way for their new employees as industry takes with its equally valuable machinery, less turnover and fewer cases of teacher burnout would result. The same kinds of management skills are needed by managers in business and managers in education for dealing with such problems as a dissatisfied public, job requirements, performance appraisals, feedback to employees, motivation, and individual development needs. Inservice programs to train employees are carefully monitored in businesses, and it has been found that they are most effective when performed by an in-house team that can treat specific personnel needs. When properly done, the retraining or updating of teachers' skills can have a positive impact on the future of teacher education. (FG)