Abstract
D.Ed.
The investment in a computerised administrative system
has become a common phenomenon at educational
institutions.
With the development of Coltech, a computerised
administrative system for technical colleges,
administration at colleges changed dramatically. This
system held the promise of reduced administrative work
for staff. The current application of the system
still reflects the above-mentioned point of departure.
Many educational leaders do not realise that the value
of the system surpasses the mere administrative
application as it is found today. The data contained
within the system can be applied fruitfully during
daily management of a technical college at the
strategic, tactical and operational level.
The quality of decision-making can be influenced
directly by means of timeous and quality information
being readily available to management. Management,however, currently tends to manage without using this
valuable resource.
The research question and related aim of this research
is to determine how a computerised administrative
system, (such as Coltech), as a basis for a management
information system, can contribute to managerial
decision-making at technical colleges.
It is generally accepted that there is a direct link
between information management on the one hand, and
administration and administrative management on the
other. The link is found in the information which
flows directly from the activities known as
administration.
Areas such as personnel, students, external community,
finance, education and curriculum as well as physical
facilities need to be administered and managed to
transform the data in the database to information.
The transformation of data to information will provide
management with the information they need to make
quality decisions