Some Issues in Building System Dynamics Models for improving the Resource Management Process in Higher Education

摘要

This paper examines issues in the Resource Management process in Higher Education Institutions. It discusses factors that should be incorporated in a system dynamics (SD) model designed to assist in policy analysis regarding Resource Management issues. It builds on a previous paper regarding Quality Management and various pilot studies described at previous conferences by the authors and others. Resource Management is an important issue for Higher Education Institutions. In the UK, various structures have been established or proposed to attempt to measure the resources deployed and the impact on quality. Many issues remain controversial however: who are the stakeholders and what should be their relative importance?; what should be the relationships between resources devoted to research and teaching?; what is the impact of changing resource levels on academic and support staff, accommodation, equipment, learning resources and information technology?; what is the impact of various management styles?; how can we define "quality"? The paper assesses the potential usefulness of SD in exploring resource issues. A conceptual model of the ' Resource Management Process' in higher education settings is presented.