Ceremonial Isomorphism or Rational Decision Making? Examining Public University Adoption of Officers for Economic Development

• In Event: 64.046 - Exploring Organizational Behavior and Decision Making in Higher Education

Abstract

Higher education’s role in economic development over the last three decades is a well-documented phenomenon. Some scholarship explores this trend and the administrative structure of economic development within the academy; however, little empirical research exists documenting its rise as a central administrative function. Using the frameworks of resource dependency and ceremonial isomorphism, this study employs an event history analysis to examine the adoption of officers for economic development at 176 APLU institutions between 2000-2016. Findings indicate that institutional selectivity, state and federal funding, state economic and political conditions, and institutional characteristics are all important predictors of an institution’s likelihood to adopt officers for economic development. These results suggest that institutions’ behaviors are driven by both ceremonial and rational considerations.

Authors

• Nathan Moore, University of Georgia - Athens

• Rachel Anne Burns, RTI International