Abu Dhabi Special Needs School Management Dilemma Research Paper

Executive Summary

The administrative supervisor at Abu Dhabi special needs school is experiencing a management dilemma. In this study, the author undertook to unearth the problems facing this institution.

There are a total of 13 members of staff in this healthcare department who work directly under the administrative supervisor. The school provides therapeutic services to special needs individuals. Some of the services include physiotherapy, occupational, and hydrotherapy. The patients catered for range from those with autism to those with cerebral palsy.

The study involved a total of 150 participants, who were used as the source of primary data. The participants were mostly parents, medical staff, and consultants. The entire study was carried out within a span of 2 weeks in Dubai. The data analysis relied on the exploratory research design proposed. To this end, the raw data, as outlined in the results and analysis section.

Thereafter, a comparative approach was employed. Information obtained from the existing literature was compared against each of the research objectives. The findings of the study were reviewed after a comprehensive comparison between existing literature and raw data from the questionnaire.

The responses revealed that, indeed, the institution was facing financial challenges. The challenges would be avoided had the management been more proactive and innovative. In addition, the institution was facing communication lapses and a ‘bad’ environment. The study recommended the replacement of the entire management team and the creation of a new communication plan.

Background and Problem Identification

Abu Dhabi Special Needs School is a healthcare facility based in Abu Dhabi (Bell 1). The administrative supervisor is in charge of the everyday operations at the Special Needs School. There are a total of 13 members of staff in this healthcare department. The employees work directly under the administrative supervisor.

Abu Dhabi Special Needs School provides therapeutic services to special needs individuals. Some of the services include physiotherapy, occupational, and hydrotherapy. The center is facing a myriad of challenges, which is common among special needs organizations. The current paper models a study to establish the actual problems at the facility. Possible solutions to the challenges are also provided.

The center has several departments meant to meet the respective therapeutic demands. For instance, there are a number of classes providing education support to special needs individuals. The classes help in the rehabilitation and care of patients with unique needs. However, the challenges make it hard to meet the therapeutic demands of the increasing number of patients. The primary challenges include lack of schedules and intradepartmental miscommunication.

However, there are a number of management weaknesses that require to be addressed. The environment within this health institution is wanting. To this end, parents who bring their children to the center are not satisfied due to the scarcity of sitting space. For example, a lack of such facilities as proper waiting rooms leads to a decline in the number of patients who access this facility. For example, the few resting rooms lead to the absence of patients.

Based on the challenges mentioned, it is clear that a management dilemma is presented with respect to client satisfaction when addressing the problems. The proposed research intends to come up with a number of solutions to address the challenges while maintaining the ethics of a special needs institution. The following excerpt outlines the major problems faced by the institution:

“The center relies heavily on generous donations. But money is still tight. Parents pay a fee, but this only covers about half the cost of teaching each child, said the center’s director, Dr. Mowfaq Mustafa. New equipment is always needed to cater for the very different needs of each pupil, while weekly trips to take them horse riding or for shopping – outings that help integrate them into society – are a drain on resources” (Bell 2).

The excerpt outlines the major financial constraints hindering the achievement of the institution’s demands. To this end, the number of patients visiting this institution has been on a decline since 2011 (Bell 3). The decline can be attributed to the organization’s inability to meet the ever-rising demands of a special needs institution.

The management cannot be spared blame given their role in steering the company to greater heights. The study will outline some of the weaknesses and provide solutions where necessary. The major objective of this study is to outline how a special needs institution can restructure itself to provide the services to a wide demographic. Abu Dhabi Special Needs School will act as a case study in this regard.

Target Market

The study involves qualitative and quantitative information obtained from a designated sample group. Questionnaires will be administered to the population to obtain the primary data needed for the study. Creswell recommends the use of dynamic demographics to ensure that the data collected reflects the objectives outlined (67). In this regard, the population consists of parents of patients, special needs practitioners, and educational consultants.

The study was carried out over a short period of time. To this end, the target market was relatively small. A total of 150 participants were involved in the survey. There were 60 parents, 55 special needs workers, and 35 consultants. The participants were between the ages of 30 and 45. Creswell asserts that gender diversity is important in such kind of a study (103). In light of this, 80 of the participants were female, while 70 were male.

The target market was also selected based on their knowledge and experience with matters relating to special needs institutions (Creswell 66). The parents were selected owing to their interaction with the actual problems that affect the patients. For instance, environmental matters and weakness in management would easily be identified by the clients of Abu Dhabi Special Needs School.

On the other hand, the special needs workers were incorporated in the study to get an expert opinion on how a special needs institution operates. The consultants were included to help in identifying and providing solutions to the challenges facing the institution.

Research Objectives

In section 1 of this paper, it was revealed that the challenges presented a managerial dilemma. The research will provide solutions to the challenges courtesy of the analysis of various aspects of literature and the target group.

However, the solutions recommended in this study will help address the managerial dilemma and realize patient growth. The main objective of this study is the increase in patient numbers at the institution. The study is a build upon similar research carried out by Khan (98). Increased patient traffic to the office translates to addressing societal matters touching on mental illness.

The study has a total of four specific objectives that will help in the realization of the objective of increasing the number of patients to the hospital. According to Khan, a special needs institution requires an environment that is conducive for tapping into the creativity of the patients (101). The study will develop an ideal environment. Secondly, the study will help in the formulation of an effective communication strategy. Improved communication helps in proper service delivery, thereby attracting more clients.

Managerial weaknesses are common in many organizations. The major administration limitations touch on the financial prudence of the organization (Miesenberger 34). The health center requires external financial assistance, which mostly comes from donors. However, the management constantly fails to provide concrete accounts of the expenditure.

Towards this end, the research will help remedy the financial impropriety at the health facility. Finally, the study will make the necessary recommendations with respect to the overall challenges and provide a roadmap to recovery.

The research objectives will only be addressed once there are clearly outlined questions. To this end, the study will address the following questions:

1. What is the ideal environment for a special needs institution?
2. What are the effective communication strategies essential in a special needs institution?
3. What are some of the ways to boost patient numbers in a special needs institution?
4. What are the major management weaknesses at Abu Dhabi Special Needs School?
5. How can Abu Dhabi Special needs School realize customer satisfaction?

The research questions will be outlined in the questionnaire. The study will provide a number of options (based on a literature review) from which the participants can select an ideal response. The options are derived from other studies which have helped in the advancement of special needs education. Appendix 1 illustrates the questionnaire and the responses provided.

Research Methodology

Research undertakings require a target market in the provision of a sample that will give an adequate response to the objectives sought. In this regard, Creswell points out that a target population is an ideal source of information intended to be used for the research (95). However, the current study will also employ an explorative research design where secondary sources will be used to support the primary data collected. In this regard, two sampling procedures will be undertaken.

The project involves the analysis of data from both primary and secondary sources. To this end, the project will involve resources of strategic management from peer-reviewed journals and books. However, Creswell points out that such a project would gain credibility with the reliance on primary sources of data (76). The methods for collecting the primary data include the administration and evaluation of questionnaires, making observations, and conducting surveys.

Simple random sampling will be employed with respect to the target population. A sampling of this nature ensures that every individual in the target population gets a chance of being included in the sample. Consequently, a list of the entire population will be necessary for a random selection.

There is also a stratified sampling that will be carried out to supplement the simple random method. A stratified random sampling requires the population group to be divided into groups with relevant features of the study (Creswell 96). In this study, the target population will be divided based on gender, age, and knowledge of special needs care.

The data collection process will involve a three-step approach. The first step will involve problem identification. In this regard, an internal assessment is necessary to compare with other similar health departments (Creswell 34).

Secondly, the data collection will select priority issues and set the necessary goals. In this regard, the data collection will work alongside certain hypotheses to seek necessary responses from the participants. The third step will be a comparison of the data collected with existing literature on the subject. The entire data collection process is estimated to take two weeks.

The duration of the study was short. To this end, the questionnaires were distributed in two groups. The first involved a group session where 123 participants were gathered and the questionnaire administered. According to Creswell, an approach of that nature helps to save on time (101). The second group of participants had the questionnaire administered through a telephone interview. Fortunately, all 150 participants completed the questionnaire. In the subsequent section, an analysis of the data is outlined.

Data Analysis

Qualitative research requires a comprehensive data analysis procedure. To this end, the proposed study will require an appropriate data analysis technique to help in evaluating the findings. According to Creswell, data analysis allows for further research on a subject (102). There are various data analysis procedures. They help in the realization of study objectives through the testing of hypotheses.

The raw data is converted into knowledge. For instance, the management weaknesses can be identified from the responses obtained. Once the weaknesses are identified, they are compared against existing literature, and a middle ground is reached. According to Creswell, data analysis of this nature requires an exploration of the variables (103).

The data analysis will rely on the exploratory research design proposed. Tabulation will be used to present the findings of the study. Thereafter, a comparative approach will be employed (Creswell, 103). Information obtained from the literature review will be compared against each of the research objectives. The findings of the study will emerge after a comprehensive comparison between existing literature and raw data from the participants (Creswell 109).

With respect to the current study, data analysis will involve an evaluation of the opinions relating to management weaknesses. For instance, the financial impropriety is evaluated from existing literature and compared with the raw data from the target market.

According to Miesenberger, institutions that provide services to special needs individuals require to provide an environment that is conducive for their operation (87). In this regard, the raw data will be evaluated on the basis of whether the information conforms to the industry standards or not.

The data analysis will involve some form of descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics should not be confused as a conclusion (Creswell 44). Rather, they are meant to give an overview of the parameters under investigation. For instance, descriptive statistics can outline the tendency of miscommunication within the health center. In this regard, some charts and graphs will be included in the data analysis (Creswell 45).

Abu Dhabi Special Needs School has experienced a number of challenges. Consequently, student numbers have continued to decline. The weaknesses in the management have largely resulted in the company’s appeal for funds, as illustrated by Bell (3). In this regard, the information gathered from the study will help provide a solution to the challenges faced by this great institution.

What is the Ideal Environment for Special Needs Education?

Participants were asked to suggest a suitable environment. The questionnaire had the following options to select from:

1. Spacious, clean and well-staffed.
2. Well funded, adequately staffed and organized.
3. Spacious and well funded.

Out of the 150 participants, 109 argued that an ideal environment is one that is spacious, clean, and well-staffed. Thirty-three of the participants held the view that a well funded and properly staffed institution constitutes an ideal environment. Eight of the participants went for a spacious and well-funded institution. The results illustrate that space, staffing, and monetary support aid in the development of a suitable environment for a special needs institution.

According to Hollar, special needs institutions require a spacious environment to allow for the various programs (34). However, in most cases, the lack of funding inhibits the allocation of such spaces. The Abu Dhabi Special Needs School has little space owing to the scarcity of funds. According to Bell, the institution requires more funding since it is a non-profit organization that solely relies on donor support (4). The funding will enable the creation of bigger rooms and better facilities.

What are the Effective Communication Strategies in a Special Needs School?

Special needs schools are staffed by different professionals. In this regard, communication becomes a huge impediment. According to Hollar, institutions with poor communication strategies fail to meet their core objectives (33). In this regard, the participants were asked to select, from a raft of options, some of the strategies that can be applied to a special needs set up. The following are the responses provided:

1. Regular departmental meetings.
2. Regular meetings with stakeholders.
3. The development of an annual strategic plan.

Sixty-seven of the participants supported the idea of having a regular departmental meetingThirty-one participants supported having regular meetings with stakeholders, while 52 of those polled suggested that the development of an annual strategic plan would be an effective communication technique. Evidently, all three responses scored relatively high among the participants. However, Khan argues that an effective communication plan is one where the staff and stakeholders are in sync with each other (105).

What are some of the Ways of Boosting Patient Numbers in a Special Needs Institution?

Abu Dhabi Special Needs School has recorded dwindling numbers over the past few years. However, the institution is not alone. There are a number of similar institutions faced with an exact predicament. In this regard, the participants were asked to suggest possible ways to boost the numbers. The questionnaires had the following options for the participants to choose from:

1. Creating a spacious and conducive environment.
2. The employment of more and highly qualified staff.
3. The acquisition of high technology equipment.

A total of 54 participants went with the idea that creating a spacious and conducive environment would boost patient numbers. Forty-three were in favor of the employment of more and highly qualified personnel. On the other hand, 53 held the view that patent numbers would greatly be boosted if high-tech equipment was acquired. According to Khan, special needs institutions provide a different kind of care in terms of education and treatment (99). To this end, there is a need for space, qualified staff, and advanced equipment.

Abu Dhabi, Special needs institution, caters to individuals with palsy, autism, and other special needs cases. To this end, a bigger space would allow for more patients and students to benefit from the services. Miesenberger suggests that special needs education and care require professionals trained in the field (77).

Consequently, there is a need to engage more qualified personnel to ensure that there is comprehensive care given to the patients. With respect to cases like cerebral palsy, advanced equipment is needed to ensure the patients get the best possible care.

Management Weaknesses

As already mentioned, the institution is faced with a number of management weaknesses. The main weakness touches on financial impropriety. To this end, the participants were asked to outline some of the major weaknesses on the part of the management. The idea of weakness in management is supported by the fact that the institution is unable to meet some of its core objectives. The following is a list of the options provided to the participants in the questionnaire;

1. Inability to develop an effective communication plan.
2. Inability to manage the finances properly.
3. Lack of innovative measures to source for funds.

In this section, all the participants responded to the question. Eighty-one of the participants argued that the major weakness was the lack of innovativeness in sourcing for funds. Seventeen of the participants felt that the management was not handling the finances properly. On the other hand, 52 of those polled suggested that the inability to develop an effective communications plan was the major weakness faced by the organization.

However, Hollar points out that most special needs institutions succeed based on the management’s ability to spur growth through innovation (136). In this regard, the Abu Dhabi Special Needs School would argue that the dwindling numbers are due to ineffective management.

The management of an organization is essential in addressing its core objectives. In the case of the Abu Dhabi Special Needs School, the management is clearly unable to meet its goals due to the lack of innovativeness and poor communication plans.

Khan suggests that communication within such an institution is key to triggering innovation (99). The institution can, therefore, resolve the management weaknesses by developing a working communication strategy. The strategy should include all stakeholders to ensure that there is a large pool of people where innovativeness can be tapped.

How can Abu Dhabi Special Needs School Realise Customer Satisfaction?

The most affected party, in a special needs set up, is the patient. However, the parents who have to take their children to such institutions also face the pain of an institution that is not up to standard. In this regard, there is a need to ensure customer satisfaction. According to Hollar, an institution with good customer satisfaction attracts more clients (98). Consequently, the participants in this study were polled on how this particular institution can improve customer satisfaction. The following were options which they were to choose from:

1. Developing a friendly environment.
2. The setting up of an interactive customer care section.
3. Assuring the clients of the best care.

One hundred three of the respondents argued that a friendly environment would greatly boost customer satisfaction. 25 of the participants held the view that setting up of an interactive customer care section would greatly impact on customer satisfaction. On the other hand, only 23 of the participants supported the idea of assuring clients of the best care.

Customer satisfaction is dependent on how best the client is treated prior to the utilization of services. An interactive customer care section would work perfectly to ensure that the clients are attended to properly (Hollar 66). However, Abu Dhabi Special Needs School has a very small waiting area. Towards this end, the environment at the institution becomes wanting.

Parents will not be assured that their patients will receive the best care if issues like reception are not addressed. Consequently, there is a need to evaluate the parameters touching the institution’s environment to ensure that parents are assured of the well being of their children.

Study Limitations

During data collection in Abu Dhabi was delayed since the participants arrived late. The participants claimed to have encountered a large wind storm, which created a traffic pile up. Consequently, the target market was more pressed for time and less willing to participate. However, the participants agreed to continue with the study.

Although Abu Dhabi Special Needs School’s identity was disguised, it was impossible to disguise that the clients were the many children who needed special care. The research was not sponsored by any party. This assumption may have biased the respondents’ responses owing to the empathy created (Creswell 30).

The respondents participated with an empathetic approach, rather than a professional one. In some instances, the participants were clouded by emotions. Nevertheless, there we professionals who helped steer the interview along the required path. The duration of the study was quite short. Consequently, the number of participants had to be regulated. Fortunately, all the participants gave responses.

Conclusion

Abu Dhabi Special Needs School is clearly meant to provide therapeutic services to many children who require specialized care. However, the institution is unable to meet its core objectives owing to the financial shortcomings illustrated in this report.

The discussions have revealed that the management is partly to blame for allowing the institution to stagnate. According to Khan, special needs institutions require proactive management to ensure that financial demands are met (100). The financial demands will enable the institution to acquire equipment and employ qualified personnel.

The institution is also faced with a poor public relations mechanism. The lack of an internal scheduling system and a poor communication network aggravate matters at the facility. Special needs institutions are meant to have a welcoming environment beyond the buildings (Hollar 66). In this regard, a strategic communication plan would be effective in creating a more welcoming environment.

However, additional research is needed to establish effective ways through which customer satisfaction can be realized in special needs institutions. Such institutions can increase the number of students accessing them.

Recommendations

The study has concluded that the major reason why the population is decreasing at Abu Dhabi Special Needs School is due to the management weaknesses. The following recommendations are made to ensure the institution meets its core objectives while addressing the problem of decreasing population:

1. The replacement of the management with one that is proactive and innovative.
2. Developing a communication strategy that will ensure all stakeholders are aware of what is happening in the institution.

Works Cited

Bell, Jennifer. Financial Help Needed for Abu Dhabi Special Needs School to Keep Operating. 2013. Web.

Creswell, John. Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research, Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE Publications, 2007. Print.

Hollar, David. Handbook of Children with Special Health Care Needs, New York, NY: Springer, 2012. Print.

Khan, Faryal. “Case Study on Special Needs Education in Pakistan: The Process of Inclusion.” European Journal of Special Needs Education 13.1 (1998): 98-111. Print.

Miesenberger, Klaus. “Computers Helping People with Special Needs.” 13th International Conference, ICCHP 2012, Linz, Austria, July 11-13, 2012. Berlin: Springer, 2012. Print.