August 23 Discussion Questions

Question 1

What are the characteristics of organized anarchy?

Answer 1

• High degree of goal ambiguity: agree on general purpose, disagree on specific goals
• Decision making processes are not clear
• Participation in decision-making process is fluid

Question 2

What are the issues that exist within closely coupled entities?

Answer 2

Decisions carry more weight
Can’t separate the goals
(ex: Housing and dining)

Question 3

What are the issues that exist within loosely coupled entities?

Answer 3

These entities have more tension
Difference in goals
Lack of understanding of purpose and process
(ex: music and biology)

Question 4

5 components of Mintzberg’s professional bureaucracy

Answer 4

Strategic Apex: Presidents and VPs responsible for operation
Middle Line: chairs, deans
Operating Core: faculty providing core services
Technostructure: HR and IR
Support Staff: Services not directly aligned with core

Question 5

3 principles that guide colleges and universities

Answer 5

understanding core mission, adapting to environmental change, and promoting democratic partnerships

Question 6

Mission Statement

Answer 6

Core values and philosophies that drive an institution

Question 7

What does the mission statement establish?

Answer 7

The parameters for funding ; decision making abilities of executive governing board

Question 8

Open Systems

Answer 8

systems that react to changes in environment (universities)

Question 9

Closed Systems

Answer 9

self-regulating systems (religion; the law)

Question 10

Democratic Partnerships

Answer 10

Internal: Governance groups - councils, committees, faculty synod
External: board members, religious affiliations, dining partners, etc.

Question 11

Examples of environmental change

Answer 11

populations attending college; economy impacting college tuition and student’s abilities to change;

Question 12

Relevance of systems theory to the academy

Answer 12

success is dependent on how well organizations operate in conjunction with their environment;
employers, consumers, and suppliers come from outside the institution

Question 13

3 types of governance models

Answer 13

Bureaucratic
Collegial
Political

Question 14

Bureaucratic Model

Answer 14

(hierarchical; structural frame)

focus on formal power and hierarchy

Question 15

Collegial Model

Answer 15

(community; HR frame)

shared values among faculty

Question 16

Political model

Answer 16

(competing interests; political frame)

complex decision-making process including all parties with vested interests

Question 17

Bifurcated Leadership

Answer 17

institutions are split into two spheres: Bureaucratic and academic
Bureaucratic = more vertical w/ decisions made at top
Academic = more lateral w/ decision centers at lower levels