Conflicts between faculty and administration have become particularly virulent and disruptive in recent years, as institutions have struggled to adapt to intensifying pressures for efficiency and accountability. Analyzing common sources of conflict and challenges on campus that impede attempts to address these conflicts, " Bridging the Divide between Faculty and Administration" provides a theory-driven and research-based approach for authentic discourse between faculty and administration. This important resource presents a wealth of strategies for improving communication in colleges and universities, ultimately enhancing organizational effectiveness and institutional performance.

Special Features:

• End-of-chapter "Implications for Practice" provide practical tips and advice for faculty and administrators to use in their own contexts.
• Analysis of actual conflicts based on extensive interviews with administrators and faculty across a variety of college and university settings.
• Exploration of creative ways for faculty and administrators to work across differences in their belief systems and to address the underlying sources of conflict.

Now available in paperback, this two-volume work is intended to help readers develop powerful new ways of thinking about organisational principles, and apply them to policy-making and management in colleges and universities. The book is written with two audiences in mind: administrative and faculty leaders in institutions of higher learning, and students (both doctoral and Master's degree) studying to become upper-level administrators, leaders, and policy makers in higher education. It systematically presents a range of theories that can be applied to many of the difficult management situations that college and university leaders encounter. It provides them with the theoretical background to knowledgeably evaluate the many new ideas that emerge in the current literature, and in workshops and conferences. The purpose is to help leaders develop their own effective management style and approaches, and feel confident that their actions are informed by appropriate theory and knowledge of the latest research in the field. Without theory, organisational leaders are forced to treat each problem that they encounter as unique-as if it were a first-time occurrence. While leaders may have some experience with a particular issue, their solutions are usually not informed by the accumulated wisdom of others who have already encountered and resolved similar situations. The authors approach the theory of the organisation and administration of colleges and universities from three quite different perspectives, or paradigms, each relying on different assumptions about the "reality" of organisational life in colleges and universities. The positivist paradigm-primarily an omnibus systems theory-integrates the chapters into a comprehensive, yet easily accessible whole. Social constructionism, the second paradigm, is introduced in each chapter to illuminate the difficulty of seeking and finding meaningful consensus on problems and policies, while also addressing important ethical issues that tend to be overlooked in leadership thought and action. The third paradigm, postmodernism, draws attention to difficulties of logic and communication under the constraints of strictly linear thinking that "authorities" at all levels attempt to impose on organisations. This "multiple paradigm" approach enables readers to become more cognisant of their own assumptions, how they may differ from those of others in their organisation, and how those differences may both create difficulties in resolving problems and expand the range of alternatives considered in organisational decision making. The book offers readers the tools to balance the real-world needs to succeed in today's challenging and competitive environment with the social and ethical aspirations of all its stakeholders and society at large. The authors' aim is to elucidate how administration can be made more efficient and effective through rational decision-making while also respecting humanistic values. This approach highlights a range of phenomena that require attention if the institution is ultimately to be considered successful.

Conflicts between faculty and administration have become particularly virulent and disruptive in recent years, as institutions have struggled to adapt to intensifying pressures for efficiency and accountability. Analyzing common sources of conflict and challenges on campus that impede attempts to address these conflicts, " Bridging the Divide between Faculty and Administration" provides a theory-driven and research-based approach for authentic discourse between faculty and administration. This important resource presents a wealth of strategies for improving communication in colleges and universities, ultimately enhancing organizational effectiveness and institutional performance.

Special Features:

• End-of-chapter "Implications for Practice" provide practical tips and advice for faculty and administrators to use in their own contexts.
• Analysis of actual conflicts based on extensive interviews with administrators and faculty across a variety of college and university settings.
• Exploration of creative ways for faculty and administrators to work across differences in their belief systems and to address the underlying sources of conflict.

Smart School Teams is for teachers, administrators, parents, and anyone who is involved in addressing the challenges of school improvement through teams and teamwork. This skill-teaching book focuses on interpersonal communication, trust and collegiality, consensus building, conflict management, problem analysis, decision making, resistance to change, and collaborative leadership, and includes practical suggestions for adapting and applying useful knowledge and strategies in school team settings.