Four-type taxonomy of institutional forms organized on flexibility/control and internal/external emphasis dimensions¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The chapter organizes four major organizational forms — hierarchy, market, clan, and adhocracy — on the same two dimensions used to frame cognitive styles: flexibility versus control and internal versus external emphasis. Hierarchies emphasize order, predictability, and internal structures; adhocracies emphasize flexibility and external constituencies; clans emphasize internal processes and individual participation; markets emphasize rational productivity oriented toward external competition. The author reports that "each of these four types of institutions exists in American higher education" in his research on 335 four-year colleges and universities.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Leadership and information processing styles congruent with the organizational form for the form's characteristic effectiveness domains to be realized

Constraints¶

• The taxonomy is presented for colleges and universities in American higher education

Target Learners¶

• higher education administrators and leaders

Target Learning Objectives¶

• institutional adaptation, renewal, and effectiveness in turbulent environments

Claims¶

Related Theories¶

• Framework of four logics of accountability crossing process-outcome and external-internal dimensions

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Cameron, Kim. (1984). The Paradox in Institutional Renewal. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED257351