A comparison of organizational culture between administrative affairs administrators and academic affairs administrators at selected institutions of higher education.

Abstract

This study examined the organizational culture of two administrative subcultures, the administrative affairs division and the academic affairs division in three four-year institutions of higher education: a research university, a regional university, and a private university. The survey instrument was the Organizational Culture Assessment Questionnaire, developed by Marshall Sashkin, which measures how members of an organization perceive the culture of their work environment in five areas: Managing Change, Achieving Goals, Coordinated Teamwork, Customer Orientation, and Cultural Strength.

When combining the responses from personnel in administrative affairs and academic affairs, the administrative affairs personnel reported a higher level for coordinated teamwork and cultural strength than did the academic personnel. The female administrative affairs personnel reported a higher level for managing change, achieving goals, customer orientation, and cultural strength than did the male administrative personnel. The administrative affairs personnel at level 1 reported a higher level of achieving goals than level 2 or level 3. The academic affairs personnel at level 3 reported a higher level for coordinated teamwork than level 2 or level 3.

The results of the study indicate that there is no significant difference among the institutions in the normative ranges for the cultural element subscores. The ability of the academic affairs divisions at all three institutions in achieving goals effectively is perceived as high or very high. The ability of both divisions at all three institutions to coordinate teamwork is perceived as high. Customer orientation and cultural strength were perceived as high and very high.