AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NEEDS OF MANAGERS FOR TWO-YEAR BUSINESS MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS

Problem and Purpose. The problem is that very little information exists to support current or changed curricula for two-year business management programs at the community college level. Available documentation from educators and practitioners regarding the requisites for such programs is seriously lacking.;Research Design and Methodology. This decision-oriented study gathered and evaluated data for the purpose of providing information to make and defend decisions concerning curricula changes. A needs assessment survey was conducted to gather data concerning program content. Three hundred and eight managers from the membership of the Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio chapters of the Administrative Management Society were surveyed. All the first and second level directors of business management degree programs in Texas community colleges were surveyed.;Results and Conclusions. There were very few differences between the perceptions of business managers and educational program directors. The findings indicated that the competencies were ranked in the following order by business managers: develop goals and action plans; write appropriate business communications; organize for effective time management; actively listen; develop coping skills; understand issues of business ethics; demonstrate familiarity with microcomputers and software; display a positive self-concept; utilize current principles of employee selection, training, evaluation and correction; use counseling skills; understand competition and marketing tools; understand legal responsibilities; perform basic business calculations and problems; evaluate non-verbal communications; understand the economic environment; utilize principles of accounting; understand government in the business environment; utilize principles of labor/management relations; solve for mathematical unknowns; utilize principles of capital management; understand social environment; understand international environment; understand business research techniques; understand business forms of partnerships, corporations, etc.; describe the role of the banking system; describe historical events leading to current business environment. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.);The purposes of this study was (1) to identify the perceptions, with regard to current and future management needs, of business managers; (2) to identify the perceptions, with regard to current and future management needs, of educational administrators who make curricular decision concerning two-year degree management programs; and (3) to compare the perceptions of managers with the perceptions of the educational administrators who direct the curricular content of management programs. This study provides current information and recommendations to educational program directors from business managers and their own peers.