PhD thesis,
The influence of organizational culture on measures of effectiveness of a private college: A case study
The Union for Experimenting Colleges and Universities, Yellow Springs, OH, PhD Thesis, (1989)
Abstract
The decrease in the number of high school graduates is of concern to college administrations. Between 1983 and 1993, the 18-21 year old population will decrease 22\%. However, Cedarville College has experienced continued growth in student enrollment and donor support over the past 10 years. A case study of this fundamental Christian, accredited, liberal arts college identified causes for these discrepant data. It is posited that the primary factor that has enabled Cedarville College to overcome negative demographic trends is its organizational culture, and that primary among that is the administrative/leadership style of its president. To that end, data relative to leadership and student and faculty attitudes was collected and evaluated through triangulation of research methods. Ethnographic data in the form of interviews, informant reports and researcher observations was collected and evaluated. Quantitative data was received from the Institutional Functioning Inventory, Small College Goals Inventory, and College Student Experiences Questionnaire. All these data converge to corroborate the fact that the organizational culture of Cedarville College has served to deter negative effects of demographic trends. Specifically, analysis reveals that a stable faculty and consistent growth in student enrollment and donor support, are attributed to positive and powerful factors of Cedarville's organizational culture.
