FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT 1 [100 Marks] Francis Bacon generally is credited with the line “knowledge is power”. It appears th

[answerhappygod]

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT 1 [100 Marks]
Francis Bacon generally is credited with the line “knowledge is
power”. It appears that this is one adage that Australia’s
university managers generally have read, because there is a
plethora of surveys, research and professional articles
asserting the selective control of communication channels in
Australian universities. Despite the rhetoric of openness and
transparency, systemic information generally is on a ‘need to know’
basis in that while issues of importance usually are
communicated to staff, the depth of content and strategic knowledge
associated with that communication generally is very
superficial, and the timing of communications frequently is such
that decisions have already been made or at best
determined before staff receive their first information. Further,
the application of the ‘commercial-in-confidence’ label is
the
subject of increasing usage and serves to keep key information in
the hands of a select few within the university. Much of
the information flow from management to staff occurs through
committee and meeting structures or informal conversation,
such that management has an additional capacity to determine who
knows what and how much about what is going on
inside the organisation. Without access to timely and comprehensive
information, it is difficult for staff to contribute in
creative and innovative ways to the direction and performance of
their university. This becomes even more problematic
when the ‘upward’ flow of information and ideas is subject to even
more constraints and restraints than the ‘downward’ flow.
Rea (2011:6) reports that in Australia’s universities, “many accuse
senior managers of not listening to informed advice or
criticism ... Complaints and complainants are to be ‘managed’, not
resolved ... [and as a result] ... there is great wariness
among university staff of speaking out”.
Richard Smith and David Lynch, 2012
Extract from Leadership Constraints and Restraints Under the ‘New
Managerialism’ Question 4 (25 Marks)
Provide FIVE (5) recommendations for improvement of communication
and information sharing in the organisation. Support
with the information from the case study and literature.