| The purpose of this study is to assess and compare the perceptions of School Business Administrators concerning the perceived actual and ideal usage of computer technology as an administrative tool. The study also explored the differences in perceptions of ideal and actual use of computer technology by male and female, certified and civil service approved School Business Administrators. In addition, this study investigated relationships between years of computer technology use, hours of computer technology training, age, years of experience as a School Business Administrator, actual levels of computer technology usage, and the level of administrative expenditures as a percent of the total general fund expenditures. Lastly, the study examined the relationship between the School Business Administrator's actual use of computer technology and the level of administrative, operational, and instructional expenditures as a percent of the total general fund expenditures.;For the purpose of this study, a survey titled, Actual and Ideal Priorities for the Use of Computer Technology by School Business Administrators in the Public School Setting, was developed. The survey contained items grouped into three categories of computer technology usages: basic, job specific and information sharing. The survey was given to School Business Administrators in the western New York State counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara, and Orleans. Forty-eight of the possible 82 surveys were completed and returned for a 58 percent response rate. Expenditure data was gathered from each district's 2002-2003 final expenditure reports.;The data demonstrated that the responding School Business Administrators had a statistically significant difference between their actual and ideal perceptions of computer technology as an administrative tool. The data also verified that School Business Administrators who are certified or civil service approved did not differ in their actual and ideal perceptions of the use of computer technology. Male and female School Business Administrators also did not differ in their actual usage of computer technology as an administrative tool. Yet, the data did reveal that female School Business Administrators had significantly higher scores on their perceived ideal usage of computer technology as an administrative tool.;The findings of this study indicated that School Business Administrators who were certified managed budgets with a lower percentage of administrative expenditures from the total general fund expenditures than their civil service counterparts. In addition, a statistically significant correlation was found between both administrative and operational expenditures as a percent of total included general fund expenditures and instructional expenditures as a percent of total included general fund expenditures. The data also demonstrates a significant correlation between years of computer use and hours of computer training and actual computer technology usage. Further relationships were found between hours of computer training and the actual level of information sharing computer usage and age and years as a School Business Administrator. Finally, a significant correlation was confirmed between actual level of basic technology usage, job specific technology usage and information sharing technology usage.;The study concluded with recommendations for technology training for School Business Administrators, recommendations to repeat the study using data reported from Superintendents and for further research in the areas of certification and decision regarding the allocation of district money. |
