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Communication analysis of administrators in an academic organization
Gordon, Hedy H.
Gordon, Hedy H.
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Abstract
Higher education is currently experiencing a series of crisis situations ranging from a significant decrease in enrollment to intrusion of outside agencies into the internal governance process. These crises complicate the roles and responsibilities of university administrators. In order to investigate possible problems and the rectification of the same administrators should be open to techniques found successful in other disciplines. One such discipline is communication theory as it specifically relates to complex organizations.
An audit of communication practices in the university can serve as a barometer of its general health. For this study, a questionnaire was administered which consisted of the Communication Satisfaction Survey and a portion of the ICA Audit which dealt with the assessment of the quality of' information from particular sources.
The sample consisted of administrators at the University of Kansas ranging from the Chancellor to the Deans of the various schools. The administrators were divided into five functional groups: executive; academic; research, graduate studies, and public service; student affairs; and business affairs. The One-Way Analysis of Variance was used to determine whether significant differences of response existed among the five groups concerning the following: the eight communication satisfaction factors, and the assessment of quality of information from specified sources.
The sample indicated the most satisfaction with their relationship with their superior and the least satisfaction with the communication climate, although the values did not enter the dissatisfied range. Since the calculated value of F was less than the critical value of F, the null hypothesis was not rejected.
The sample indicated that the highest quality of information occurred in terms of accuracy from supervisors. Only 3 of the 24 F-values were determined to be greater than the critical value of F; however, in a 4 x 6 matrix a low number of significant values could exist by chance alone. Consequently, the null hypothesis was rejected with qualifications for the following three cases: accuracy of grapevine information, usefulness of grapevine information, and usefulness of information from faculty and students.
No matter how satisfied an administrator is with communication in his organization or with the quality of information received, there is always room for improvements. As a conclusion to the study, specific suggestions were given by which an administrator can improve the quality of information in the system. These suggestions were divided into two broad categories: human and electronic. Suggestions were also made for future needed research.
Description
M.S.Ed. University of Kansas, Administration, Foundations, and Higher Education. 1979
Date
1979-05-31
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University of Kansas
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gordon_1979_606120.pdf
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