Organization and Governance of Higher Education Essay

Organization and Governance of Higher Education - Essay Example This paper outlines that the governance and the organization of the internal structure of the university require in-depth analysis of power and its exercise in organization. It requires incorporation of the leadership studies, political theories, and analysis of how formal or informal the interaction between the organizations are in terms of management of conflict, and analysis of tension between bureaucratic and professional authority. These perspectives confirm that structures, while necessary are not sufficient to manage the kind of conflict that emerges as tension between bureaucratic and professional authority. It requires special skill set and combination to manage the conflict that emerges in colleges and universities. Understanding less formal and more contingent ways to deal with these conflicts seem to be the most promising avenues for governing higher education. Governing requires understanding of works and forces that shape the behavior of those who govern to give the sou ndest analytical platform from which to begin. The system which provides information about how power and authority are exercised is what governing is about, and requires and analysis of the structures, procedures and outcomes. Governing implies how people work within the structures of the formal authority to reach a decision. Governing which is the exercising power and authority is more important than the governance. From this discussion it is clear that the recent trends indicate that the capitalism, academic style is reshaping its focus and forms of academic production and governance. This emerging trend of entrepreneurial orientation affects the function which has become a priority in the governance. This has also been impacted by the change in the structure of the professional employment in the academy from full time dominant faculty to part time faculty and full time support professional.