Implementing a Planning Process: A Problem in Organizational Design

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Creator
  • Dill, David D.
    • Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Public Policy
Abstract
  • In their now classic study of academic organizations in the early 1970s Cohen and March (1986) asked college and university presidents whether their college had a "plan." The responses tended to fall into four alternatives: (1) Yes, we have a plan. It is used in capital project and physical location decisions. (2) Yes, we have a plan. Here it is. It was made during the administration of our last president. We are working on a new one. (3) No, we do not have a plan. We should. We are working on one. (4) I think there's a plan around here someplace. Miss Jones, do we have a copy of our comprehensive 10- year plan? (p. 113) Cohen and March concluded that, if planning is understood as specification of objectives, identification of alternative routes to objectives, and choice among alternatives, then there was little evidence of comprehensive planning in higher education. Rather planning was understood as a symbolic activity, creating institutional advertisements to attract the support of private and public donors.
Date of publication
DOI
Resource type
  • Article
Rights statement
  • In Copyright
Journal title
  • Carolina Planning Journal
Journal volume
  • 19
Journal issue
  • 1
Page start
  • 2
Page end
  • 9
Language
  • English
Digital collection
  • Carolina Planning Journal

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