There are several similarities between running a successful business and managing a successful class. One of many, is avoiding comebacks. If you don't repair a car properly it will comeback and cost you money. If you don't prepare the students properly they will fail your course and have to repeat the course. Either way someone has to pay more and that is not a good business practice.
Both require a lot of customer relations. But in the classroom management there is a need to be more knowledgeable of what the student is about and how they are doing. Success is somewhat they same but in the classroom the success is the student and how they are prepared for their future.
I feel they are pretty much the same. you should attemot to make the class and or lab as realistic as possable. this will help prepare the student for the job. I.e. set up a shop foreman position or a group leader to rotate a different times so every one can get a fell for the position.
Both the student and customer should be treated with genuine concern and respect. The same needs are there to keep up with iddustry training. porfessionallism is also stressed for both school and shop. More focus on the bottom line and dollars and cents is addressed at work.
There are similarities in both, your goal is to have a satisfied customer.In business this is your income in class it is to give the student the best you have in material,training because he is the end product. We all known you do have bad customers but you do your best to satisfy them.The same applies to class but you must be working on improvement always to make it the best learning experience.
Dennis--
As you point out, stories from the 'real world' can have a huge and positive impact on students. Professionalism and a 'can do' attitude make a big difference in the class and on the job.
Susan
I think the management process is very similar. both are goal oriented towards achieving a specific result.
however, to me, the importance is in the process, the management and well being of the students/employees
Steve,
There are many similarities between the two.
First there is the professionalism. This is a very important "piece" of the pie. Ususally during my sop's, I will tell the students of a person, that I worked next to, in the field.I will not mention his name, but I will let the students know of his unprofessionalism and how it impacted customers and eventually , his paycheck.
There are also things like using manuals and adhering to proceedures.
Next there is customer service. No matter what environment we are in, these have shown to be very important areas, to make sure get followed, with consistency.
During my time as a technician, business owner, Instructor,all of these things needed to be followed correctly. When they are, CSI scores tend to be high and when they are not the scores, tend to be low.
Salvatore--
This is an excellent point. They say we learn more from our 'mistakes' (failures) than our successes. While we certainly want them to learn the correct way, an environment where they can take risks is important.
Susan
They do work hand in hand. This also how to ready them into the real world and how things are done. Some times in business you have to be sucessful in school as well.Setting your role with the students makes them respect you even more as they know now what you want and expect of them. I would say they are measured the same as the outcome is the same win or loose. You cant win them all all the time.
Audie Toney.
Avondale UTI.
They are very similar because you have to manage your time and people so you get the job done on time so you can get your paper work in also.Success is measured in the shop by how much money you make, in the classroom success is measured on how the students understood the tasks put in front of them.
There are most certainly some important similarities, time management is critical, a leader that the workers believe in is important and grades are like pay. It is however important that we recognize that as educators we are in the mistake business. By that I mean we need to create an environment where it is safe to take some risk and learn from our mistake and not get fired.
The similarities are to achieve a successful understanding.In the class it's the subject matter. In business it's the bottom line.I really don't believe there are any differences.
James--
Great analogy about students being customers too. The customer sometimes needs 'educating' as well.
Susan
Lyle--
If we can continue to make those connections between the classroom and the workplace, students are much more receptive to the environment we establish. Great job.
Susan
They are a lot alike you need to make your class intresting so your students want to learn just like a business it has to be maketable also the success of the class was it what the student expected were they happy just like a product where they happy and would they buy it again
I think there is a close parallel between class and business management. One is that in education there is emphasis on learning, developing skills and preparation. In a business environment you are learning every day, developing skills and preparation for the days work. Successful business manager will be able to manage employees effectively by setting standards, goals and be able to help employees reach the goals. In education it would be the same.
Managing a successful business and managing a successful class do have some similarities. The successful businessman mustmanage his employees effectively by setting standards and assigning duties to be completed in a timely fashion. If this is done properly the customers keep using the services or products of the business.
In the classroom for an instructor to be successful he must set standards and assign tasks to be completed in a certain time frame.
Businesses are generally considered successful when they not only make a profit but have a growing customer base. The same could be said of a class in that the students would say that they enjoyed the class and were able to learn useable information or skill related to their field.
Both classroom and a business can have very similar guide lines. Classroom - group of students, business - group of employees, both need communication and understanding in what is expected and what is needed. Rules and regulations to rewards and benifits are areas that need to be addressed and understood. Success measurement for a business is from product quality and quantity, in the classroom education is measured on quality and to a point quantity, so yes Steve they both can be measured in the same manor.
Managing a business and a class are the same to the effect that the outcome of both are to have success with your customers.Differences would be your class is self controled and a business has multiple outside influences.
