Higher Education Administration in a Dynamic System‪.‬

Organizational Characteristics of Universities There are nine attributes that characterize the bureaucratic university. These are: (1) high micro-specialization, (2) a focus on creating and disseminating knowledge, (3) organizing around academic disciplines, (4) a provost or academic vice president who is in command, (5) highly ordered and structured management layers, (6) rational and deductive decision making (while this is the typical process, decision making is also politicized and small grievances can play a disproportionately high role in outcomes, as can jealousy and envy regarding recognition and rewards), (7) measurements that are precise, quantitative and increasingly monetized, (while that is believed, in fact, measurements are imprecise and, at best, provide accuracy), (8) control systems that are formal, and (9) policies and procedures that are highly codified and detailed. In short, universities are the epitome of the industrial organizational complex. As an aside it is interesting that as universities have become more like the scientifically managed industrial enterprises of the 19th and 20th century the emerging model in many free enterprise organizations is to become more like the common university of the pre 20th century: more focused on informal controls, knowledge, creativity, and intangible assets.