Decision-making in theory and practice in the management of colleges of higher education, with particular references to resource allocation : a comparative study

Hill, John (1988) Decision-making in theory and practice in the management of colleges of higher education, with particular references to resource allocation : a comparative study. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Abstract

The context of this thesis is the management of colleges operating in the further education sector in England and Wales. The research examines decision-making processes within colleges of further education, with the objective of identifying, where possible, some of the main organisational principles underlying these institutions and the methods adopted for the evaluation of their performance. Essentially therefore this investigation is concerned with the structure, functioning and performance of a selection of colleges and the managerial behaviour of groups and individual members of staff within them. The specific purpose of the present research is to examine and compare the respective managerial anatomies - more accurately perhaps, physiologies -of the five colleges under survey, to determine more clearly how and by whom decisions are arrived at in practice in the colleges and to ascertain the possible consequences of different decision-making processes for specific areas of resource allocation over which colleges have a large measure of control. The thesis thus falls within the boundaries of organisation theory. A survey, based upon a questionnaire and follow-up interviews with members of staff, was conducted to obtain evidence from the five colleges, all concerned primarily - if not solely - with further education and all located in the south and south-west regions of England. A questionnaire-survey aimed to ascertain the state of college organisation and government and follow-up interviews was conducted to elicit further evidence and clarify uncertainties arising from responses to the questionnaire. Information forthcoming from the survey was supplemented by statistical data and organisational details obtained from the colleges and also by personal observation by the researcher of certain aspects of the work of the college. Evidence provided by the staff of the five colleges involved showed that colleges exist within and are constrained by their respective communities, the communities determining, to a large extent, the eductional, economic and social frameworks within which colleges operate. Nevertheless, within the limitations imposed by the community, the colleges were relatively free to decide upon the courses of action to be pursued. The research also revealed that aspects of decision-making in colleges of further education were widely dispersed. There were times during the investigation when difficulties were experienced over identifying with precision the decision-makers. Pressure group influences and the subtle exercise of power by staff contributed to this problem. While major decision-making took place at upper organisationl levels within the five colleges under survey, members of the lecturing staff of the colleges were involved in, and often exercised a determining influence upon, decisions which related to their professional role. (D82738)

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