Collaborative decision-making in an Australian university: "The impossible dream?"

Holloway, D.A. and Holloway, D.J. (2006) Collaborative decision-making in an Australian university: "The impossible dream?". In: 20th ANZAM (Australian New Zealand Academy of Management) Conference: Management: Pragmatism, Philosophy, Priorities, 6 - 9 December 2006, Central Queensland University, Qld.

Preview

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (186kB) | Preview

Abstract

Managerialism is the dominant management practice in higher education decision-making. Collaboration is only allowed, or even actively encouraged, in teaching and research. In all other organisational matters there is a prevailing top-down approach to decision-making. The result is managers who believe that they always know better than those they manage. This paper challenges that dominant philosophy. It utilises a qualitative study of the latest strategic planning process at Murdoch University where there was an attempt to use a more collaborative and participatory approach. It concludes that there will need to be significant changes in organisational culture; communication processes; leadership ethos; and, management mindsets before effective collaboration, in the form of employee participation and involvement in decision-making, can develop and flourish.