Domain of Management

"Management involves controlling Instructional Technology through planning, organizing, coordinating, and supervising" (Seels & Richey, 1994, p. 49). Development of instructional materials is not the sole responsibility of Instructional Designers. Designers often work with a development team, which requires management of schedules, resources, budgets, and time.

There are four subcategories in the Management domain:

• Project management
• Resource management
• Management of delivery systems
• Information management.

According to Rothwell and Kazanas (1992), Project Management differs from traditional management because project members may be new members of a team, project managers often lack long-term authority over people because they are temporary bosses, and project managers enjoy greater control and flexibility than is usual in organizations. The project manager’s responsibilities are to meet the client’s requirements, and bring the project to in on time and within the budget. The widely accepted model used to complete these tasks was developed by Michael Greer. This model defines three phases of a project: planning, development, and follow up.

“Resource Management involves planning, monitoring, and controlling resource support systems and services.” (Seels & Richey, 1994, pg.51) Resources include personnel, facilities, budget, equipment, and materials. For example, During a project, several departments have supply needs that may change throughout the project. These changes must be anticipated and monitored closely. There should be procedures set in place to cope with each of these changes. Along with procedures, there should be back up resources, built-in time, and special clauses in the agreements with financial providers to allow for more money. Communication is a key in resource management so that potential problems can be addressed before they happen. Committees should be formed to monitor each area for potential resource issues.

Delivery System Management is planning, monitoring, and controlling "the methods by which distribution of instructional materials is organized ... [It is] a combination of medium and method of usage that is employed to present instructional information to a learner" (Ellington and Harris, 1986, p. 47). Accord in Greer the delivery system and deliverables must been designed to thoroughly meet the established need from the analysis. The delivery system and deliverables for a project must also be visualized and communicated in vivid detail early in the project to ensure all stakeholders agree. Once the agreement has taken place, the deliverables must evolve gradually, building a little at a time and seek approval at each stage. This helps aviod risks and cost. In order to complete these tasks, the project manager must have a thoroughly documented nees, an effective communication system, an appropriate design, and milestones or checkpoints in place to monitor progress.

Information Management is a method for collecting, processing and condensing information with a goal of efficient management. According to Rosset Information management is about delivering the correct information to right people at the right time. The evolution of communication technologies such as e-mail, forums, and tele-conferencing has changed the way information can be managed. A project manager must design an effective communication system for the dissimination of information to project team members. The design of the information management system depends on the resources available from the client.