There were two key components to the research, one the identification of critical management practices and two examining the extent to which they were being used as an indicator of good practice in individual agencies.
The research was undertaken in two stages.
Stage one identified aspects of business management practices to investigate (Appendix A). This stage led to the development of the interview questionnaire that was used in stage two. This stage involved interviewing the five key providers involved with the project, these were:
· Diamond Valley Learning Centre Inc;
· Glenroy Adult Literacy Group;
· Preston Neighbourhood House;
· Thornbury Women’s Neighbourhood House;
· Craigieburn Further Education Centre Inc.
Structured interviews were conducted aimed at identifying one aspect of business management practice that each provider wanted to improve and an aspect that they felt they were currently doing well. Results obtained were incorporated into the interview questionnaire used in the second stage. Prior to undertaking the interviews the questionnaire was reviewed by Anne Badenhorst and Gary Hough of RMIT to assess its effectiveness in providing the information necessary to be able to determine appropriate management practices. Once approved the questionnaire was used as the basis for data collection.
Stage two involved interviewing all eleven agencies involved in the study, these were
· Broadmeadows Further Education Development Association;
· Craigieburn Further Education Centre Inc;
· Diamond Valley Learning Centre Inc;
· Doncaster Community Care and Counselling Centre Inc;
· Further Education Collective in Heidelberg;
· Glenroy Adult Literacy Group;
· Moreland Adult Eduction Association Inc;
· Nillumbik Living and Learning Centres;
· Preston Neighbourhood House;
· SPAN Community House;
· Thornbury Women’s Neighbourhood House.
The interviews obtained both qualitative and quantitative data. Information was sought on a number of aspects of an agency’s practices which related to the principles of best practice outlined above. Specific information was sought on the agency’s practices in the following areas:
· Financial;
· Program Planning and Development;
· Human Resource Management;
· Strategic Planning;
· Marketing and Promotion;
· Management and Administration;
· Program Provision.
A classification scale with a range from 0 to 5 was developed and used to record data as follows:
· 0 = Not Relevant - this particular aspect is not relevant to this organisation;
· 1 = No - this particular aspect is not used or does not exist;
· 2 = Considering/Developing - this particular aspect is being developed or its implementation is being considered;
· 3 = Implementing/Using - this aspect is in place or being used currently;
· 4 = Evaluating - this aspect has been used or been in place and its effectiveness is currently being evaluated;
· 5 = Revising/Redeveloping - this aspect has been evaluated and is now in the process of being redesigned, revised or redeveloped.
The scale was not meant to be seen as a measure of effectiveness but as an indication of where an agency was at in the implementation of that particular aspect.
Participants were sent a copy of the questions to be asked prior to the interview. A letter explaining the aim of the study and the rules and principles governing the research project were also sent to participants (Appendix B).
The five key providers were part of the Business Development Project that obtained the funding for the research project. The other six participants agreed to be involved in the study following regional ACE meetings where organisations were invited to participate.
Ten of the sample are located in the Northern ACFE Region one is located in the Eastern Region and represents a large community agency providing a wide range of services. The sample represents a good cross section of providers in the region well as the Melbourne metropolitan area in general. Not all agencies were exclusively education and training providers, several agencies were involved in other community activities with ACFE program provision representing differing levels activity. There were mix of small and large agencies operating in various localities representing a range of socioeconomic and demographic indicators.
