The use of administrative computer networks for decision support: A study of public high school principals

School systems across the nation have invested in administrative computer systems to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the management of schools. Since the personal computer revolution that started in the 1980s and subsequent development of local area networks, single administrative computer systems have been increasingly replaced with administrative computer networks. An administrative computer network can improve the efficiency of school operations and also support the principals individually in their jobs as decision-makers.;A nationwide study of 573 high school principals was conducted to determine if administrative computer systems were being used for decision support. This study investigated general use of computer networks as well as the use of administrative software on the networks. The study investigated the formal and informal factors that influenced principals to use an administrative computer network for decision support. According to the data provided by 311 respondents, principals do use administrative networks to access information and to support decision making required of them in school administration and management.;The conclusions drawn from this study are: (1) a majority of high school principals use their administrative computer networks daily; (2) high school principals who use an administrative network also use it for decision support; (3) the informal experience of owning a computer and self-instruction of computer skills makes a principal more likely to use the administrative computer network for decision support; (4) the formal experiences of attending a school inservice program or professional seminars on computer technology make it more likely that a principal will use an administrative network for decision support; and (5) nationwide preparation is not meeting the needs of school administrators in the area of computer technology and information management.