Date of Award
8-1986
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Abstract
Two questions were addressed in this study of presidential administration in higher education. How does an experienced president in higher education carry out the work of that office? How can that work be described utilizing a theoretical perspective?
The methodology for the study included observation of the president's work, interviews with selected persons who were familiar with his work, and the study of documents. The president's schedule and telephone logs were analyzed.
The theoretical structure for the study was built upon the views of Baldridge, Kauffman, and Kerr who have suggested that the president of the research university functioned in ways similar to the political figure, the "statesman," or a mayor of a city. The theoretical model developed by Kotter and Lawrence in their study of urban mayors was applied to the work of the president. The Kotter/ Lawrence model was comprised of three major elements: agenda setting, network building, and task accomplishment.
The findings indicated that the president used a combination of formal and informal agenda setting approaches. The interviewees assessed his agenda setting activity as being slightly above the middle point (2.4) on a scale on which Ill was a "muddling" approach and #4 was a highly rational, systematic approach. The president was perceived as having built a strong and extensive network with all major constituencies. He utilized multiple approaches to build cooperative relationships and had developed a relatively small, loyal staff. The president's major task accomplishment approach was perceived by the interviewees to be entrepreneurial.
Kotter and Lawrence identified five types of mayors. The activity of the president did not fit any one of the types completely but had some of the characteristics of the Executive and the Program Entrepreneur types.
The researcher concluded that the Kotter/Lawrence model provided for an analysis of the relationships among the contextual variables (the president, the agenda, the network, and the university) but it did not provide for some of the "personality" and values variables which are important factors in administrative practice. Nevertheless, the model is recommended as a relatively comprehensive tool for the analysis of the work of a president.
Recommended Citation
Rice, Daniel Roy, "Selected administrative practices of university president described and analyzed through the use of the Kotter/Lawrence theory" (1986). Theses and Dissertations. 7414.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/7414