How Colleges Work The Cybernetics of Academic

One of the best theoretical and applied analyses of university academic organization and leadership in print. This book is significant because it is not only thoughtfully developed and based on careful reading of the extensive literature on leadership and governance, but it is also deliberately intAnded to enable the author to bridge the gap between theories of organization, on one hand, and practical application, on the other. ?Journal of Higher Education

ROBERT BIRNBAUM is professor of higher education at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he teaches and writes about higher academic leadership and organization. He was previously vice chancellor of the City University of New York, vice chancellor of the New Jersey Department of Higher Education, and chancellor of the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. He is also author, coauthor, and editor of numerous articles and books, including How Academic Leadership Works and How Colleges Work.

Preface

xiii

(6)

The Author

xix

Part One: Understanding Colleges and Universities as Organizations

1

(82)

1. Problems of Governance, Management, and Leadership in Academic Institutions

3

(27)

Problems of Governance: Trustees and Faculty; Administrators and Faculty; Normative Statements on Governance

Problems of Organization: Dualism of Controls; Mission and Management; Power, Compliance, and Control

Institutional and Organizational Constraints: Institutions and Environments; Decentralization; Inflexibility of Resources; Confusion of Organizational Levels; Cosmopolitans and Locals: Prestige and Rank; Other Organizational Differences

The Problem of Leadership: Leadership Theories; Social Exchange Theory; Leadership as Symbol; Leadership and Environments

The Nature of Academic Organization--A Summary

2. Thinking in Systems and Circles: The Structure and Dynamics of Academic Organizations

30

(26)

The Nature of Systems: Interacting Components; Boundaries; Inputs and Outputs; Types of Systems

Tight and Loose Coupling: Functions and Dysfunctions of Loosely Coupled Systems; Coupling and Survival

The Contingency Approach: The Environment of Colleges and Universities; The Technical Subsystem of Colleges and Universities; Differences in Institutional Governance and Management

Thinking in Circles

Implications for Administrators: Cause and Effect; Time and Administrative Behavior; Predictability; Differences Between Institutions; The Need for Unlearning

3. Making Decisions and Making Sense: The Administrator's Role

56

(27)

Being Rational: Problems of Calculation and Comparison; Satisficing; Goals and Rationality; Effectiveness and Rationality; The Rational Institution

Being Sensible: The Meaning of Organizing; How Organizing Takes Place; Sharing Meanings; Retrospective Sense Making

Institutional Culture: Efficiency, Ceremony, and Management: Forces for Cultural Similarity; Forces for Cultural Differences; Cultural Distinctiveness; Culture and Environment; Myths and Management

Implications for the Administrator as Decision Maker or Sense Maker

Part Two: Models of Organizational Functioning

83

(92)

4. The Collegial Institution: Sharing Power and Values in a Community of Equals

85

(20)

Heritage College as a Collegial System

Characteristics of Collegial Systems

Loops of Interaction in Collegial Systems

Tight and Loose Coupling in Collegial Systems

Effective Leadership in Collegial Systems: Live Up to the Norms of the Group; Conform to Group Expectations of Leadership; Use Established Channels of Communication; Do Not Give an Order That Will Not Be Obeyed; Listen; Reduce Status Differences; Encourage Self-Control

5. The Bureaucratic Institution: Rationalizing Structure and Decision Making

105

(23)

People's Community College as a Bureaucratic System

Characteristics of Bureaucratic Systems

Loops of Interaction in Bureaucratic Systems

Tight and Loose Coupling in Bureaucratic Systems

Effective Leadership in Bureaucratic Systems

6. The Political Institution: Competing for Power and Resources

128

(23)

Regional State University as a Political System

Characteristics of Political Systems

Loops of Interaction in Political Systems: Coalitions; Negotiations

Tight and Loose Coupling in Political Systems

Leadership in Political Systems: Clarifying Group Values; Reducing the Cost of Participation

7. The Anarchical Institution: Finding Meaning in a Community of Autonomous Actors

151

(24)

Flagship University as an Anarchical System

Characteristics of Anarchical Systems: Problematic Goals; Unclear Technology; Fluid Participation

Loops of Interaction in Anarchical Systems

Tight and Loose Coupling in Anarchical Systems: Problems; Solutions; Participants; Garbage-Can Decision Making

Effective Leadership in Anarchical Systems: Spend Time; Persist; Exchange Status for Substance; Facilitate Opposition Participation; Overload the System; Provide Garbage Cans; Manage Unobtrusively; Interpret History

Part Three: Integrating the Models

175

(56)

8. The Cybernetic Institution: Providing Direction Through Self-Regulation

177

(24)

Characteristics of Cybernetic Systems: Thermostats and Feedback Loops; Goals and Subunits; Limiting Uncertainty; Responding to Feedback; Changing Behavior; Collecting Data; The Subunit-Organization Hierarchy: Goals and Controls

Loops of Interaction in Cybernetic Systems

Tight and Loose Coupling in Cybernetic Systems

Effective Leadership in Cybernetic Systems: Management by Exception; Designing Systems; Directive Cybernetic Leadership; Administrative Intervention; The Role of Analysis; Principles for the Cybernetic Leader

9. Effective Administration and Leadership in the Cybernetic Institution

201

(30)

Leading Cybernetically

Complicating the Controller

Learning Accurately

Administering Cybernetically: Persistence and Flexibility; Undermanaging and Overmanaging; Remembering and Forgetting

Balancing Administration

References

231

(14)

Index

245

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How Colleges Work The Cybernetics of Academic Organization and Leadership

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials