The bridge between industry and education : framework for analysis : a report

Abstract

This report is based on data and research following a three-week attachment period during the summer of 1989 with Bleimund (Malta) Ltd., a clothing factory. My sincerest thanks go to the General Manager, Mr. Angelo Magro, who patiently and willingly helped me in great measure. During this same period, I interviewed the employees (both the operatives and office staff), attended meetings, sat in on an interview with a prospected new employee, and frequently walked along the production lines with the general manager. This report has been divided into two parts. Part I focuses on the actual factory in question. Work descriptions are given, as well as the general manager's functions and responsibilities. Much emphasis has been laid on Part II of the report. An examination is carried forth of the transfer of management theory as related to industry onto educational management, since education is increasingly borrowing ideas, strategies and terms from the industrial community. These can be either valid or invalid. The report examines ways in which schools may differ from other organizations, and then reviews any borrowings. Finally, it tries to indicate those that merit such transfer, those who can be treated only as similarities, and those that effectively have little or no place at all in our educational setting. Thus, it can be seen why I have written in some length on the actual factory environment in Part I, to better visualize any possible 'borrowings' to the eventual reader.