| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立屏東師範學院 === 國民教育研究所 === 90 === Study on the Patterns of Decision-making and Their Embedded Factors─
A Case Study by Means of Observation and Interviews with a College President
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the patterns and their underlying factors when a college president is making his administrative decisions under different situations. The main subject under study is the president of Wu-San College (a pseudo name) in the south of Taiwan, while the faculty and staff members of the college are also incorporated into the study to provide evidence in support of the findings. It is noted that the research is a qualitative study employing techniques such as observation, interview, literature review to collect data and then undergoing analyses and interpretations. With these, the study attempts to understand the process and principles embedded in the college president’s decision-making, and hopefully some patterns in the decision-making can thus be drawn up.
Research findings are as follow:
I. Processes of Decision-making:
1.One-way straightforward process
The president makes his own decision directly whenever he discovers a problem without further consulting people.
2.Two-way interactive process
The president consults with the chiefs or personnel in charge first and then comes to his decision through a series of meetings.
3.Muti-way communicative process
The president is inclined to delay his decision-making until he has collected the opinions reflecting those of the majority. This is a problem-solving process that gathers ideas and opinions on a larger scale.
II. Principles embedded in the decision-making:
1.Hold the decision until the time is ripe.
2.Entrust people with full responsibility.
3.Hold the decision until the best results are expected to achieve.
4.Set up the goals.
III. The ways to make the decision:
a.Following the intuition.
b.Sticking to principles.
c.Results-oriented.
d.Process-oriented.
IV. The styles in making decisions:
1.Authoritarian-style of decision-making.
Superficially, this is a style of decision-making related to the termed “one-way straightforward process” as the president by-pass the process of consulting with others.
2.Gradual-modification style of decision-making.
This is the mode of decision-making adapted most often by the president as he modifies it gradually along with the whole process.
3.Group-forming style of decision-making.
The president will tend to convene a meeting to gather ideas and opinions, despite the fact that he can go ahead and make his decision.
4.Democratic style of decision-making
The president will make his decision by incorporating different groups into the process. It is intended to keep abreast with the patterns in a democratic society and balance the power competition among different groups.
VI. The factors affecting the president’s decision-making
A. Subjective factors:
1.The subjective factors from outside include: a) pressures or opinions from outside, b) the reputation of the college, c) useful information, d) the willingness of the persons involved, e) the possible effects of decisions, e) criticisms from others, f) contingent plan, and g) the influence of media.
2.The subjective factors within include: a) experiences of one’s own, b) connections, c) “face” issues, and d) the harmony among all personnel.
B. Objective factors:
1.The factors out of control: a) restriction of regulations and laws, b) time allowed to make decision, c) the administrative procedures, and d) budget limits.
2.The factors that restrict: a) examples from other institutions, and b) instances in the past within college.
Last, the writer made suggestions with respect to the findings in this study. Also, the writer would like to share them with the presidents of other colleges or those who are concerned, and hopefully this will be useful information for their reference in the future.
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