Administrative functions and tasks common to television station managers employed in institutions of higher education

Abstract

The purpose of this study was two-fold. The study was to identify a set of management functions and tasks common to television station managers of stations licensed to institutions of higher education. The study was also to identify the relative degree of authority managers felt they DO have and SHOULD have in accomplishing their tasks. A generalization of common management functions and tasks of station managers might lead to a more effective training program for those seeking careers in this area. Further, information from this study could lead to a streamlining of organizational structure and might aid the station manager himself in accomplishing his tasks. The research provides answers to the following questions. (1)Do managers perform a common set of tasks which can be categorized according to the management functions of Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing and Leading, and Controlling? (2)What degree of authority do managers perceive they DO have to perform the identified tasks? (3)What degree of authority do managers perceive they SHOULD have to perform the identified tasks? The survey instrument design was based on input from a survey of the literature and validated by a jury of experts in the field of public broadcasting management. The total population of the study consisted of the station managers of the 53 television stations licensed to institutions of higher education in the United States. Seventy-nine percent of the managers returned valid survey instruments. ...