Brief Overview of the Organization
Northwestern Agusan Colleges is a private institution located in the beautiful municipality of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, which is dubbed the “Timber Land of the South.” It is ranked as one of the top Higher Educational Institutions in the CARAGA Region. The campus life revolves around the context of serving the community so as to nurture, act for, and care for humanity. It is NAC’s mission to provide affordable education, deliver quality and inclusive instruction, become a globally-engaged institution, and produce morally-nurtured individuals who are expected to put their education to work in service to others—another mark that distinguishes NAC from other institutions of higher learning.
Summary of the Key Points Covered in the Study
This study covered the following contemporary management theories: Contingency Theory, Systems Theory, Scientific Management Theory, Administrative Theory, Bureaucratic Theory, Quantitative Theory, Organization as a Learning System, Human Relations Theory, and Theory X and Y. These theories are shaping management practices today and may be applied in various areas of concentration that could help the organization grow.
INTRODUCTION
This study explores the integration of contemporary Management Theory principles within Northwestern Agusan Colleges' management practices, examining their current implementation. This investigation aims to identify which theory or theories could benefit both the institution and its employees.
Contemporary Management offers a modern approach to business oversight, encompassing planning, decision-making, and monitoring. This practice seeks to align goals with the interests of diverse stakeholders, from investors to employees and customers. Peter Drucker's introduction of Management by Objectives (MBO) marked a departure from traditional management focused solely on strict rules/efficiency or employee satisfaction. This shift aligns with the observations of Mintzberg (1973), who highlighted the limitations of purely prescriptive management approaches and the need for more adaptive strategies.
Modern Management Theory guides organizational practices by recognizing that employee motivation is influenced by various factors and by explaining business operations to inform management strategies. Leaders utilize these theories as frameworks to motivate employees and achieve organizational goals. This perspective is supported by the findings of Deci and Ryan's Self-Determination Theory (1985), which emphasizes the importance of intrinsic motivation beyond mere extrinsic rewards.
The benefits of modern management theory include boosted productivity, improved decision-making by providing managers with crucial insights, enhanced employee engagement by considering non-financial motivators, promoted objectivity through mathematical techniques for effective solutions, and enabled adaptability by emphasizing the impact of internal/external factors. Different management theories assist managers in prioritizing processes, relationships, and information vital for an organization's success. However, a potential gap exists in the specific application and contextualization of these broad theories within the unique environment of Northwestern Agusan Colleges, a private institution in the CARAGA Region with a strong community service orientation. Existing literature on management theory implementation in similar Philippine private higher education institutions, such as the work by Tan (2018) on organizational culture and management practices, suggests that local context significantly influences the effectiveness of adopted theories. Therefore, this study seeks to bridge this gap by specifically examining the applicability and impact of contemporary management theories within the distinct context of NAC.
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