ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the organizational model, the bureaucratic perspective, which has been dominant in traditional administrative theory. The main limitations attributed to the bureaucratic perspective are as follows: These weaknesses suggest that bureaucratic theories offer only, a partial explanation of events and situations in educational establishments. The chapter examines alternative perspectives which have become influential during the two decades, this leading us to the notion of multiple perspectives and diverse methodologies. Political perspectives afford valuable insights into the operation of educational institutions. Ambiguity perspectives introduce some important dimensions into our study of educational administration. In particular they damage the bureaucratic notion that problems can necessarily be solved by a rational process. The chapter also considers the application of the perspectives in research and in practice, the examples chosen from a vast field being inevitably somewhat arbitrarily selected. It explains the issue of the relevance of theory and research for educational advance.
