Al Baldwin, Ph.D. Campus Dean, Lakeshore Campus College of Lake
College Grayslake, IL
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This presentation examines issues in achieving overall
organizational goals from a multi-campus educational institution
from a ecosystem perspective.
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Individual campuses are distinct organisms Multiple campuses
add complexity to the management of the institution. Multiple
campuses can add uncertainty to the institutional decision making
process. The distinct nature of individual campuses can be
leveraged to meet the goals of the institution while meeting the
needs of the service area where each campus is located.
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A system formed by the interaction of community entities such
as public school systems, employers, ethnic groups, and local/state
governments within their environment.
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Ecosystems are controlled both by external and internal
factors. External factors such as politics, the educational
governing bodies control the overall structure of an
college/university ecosystem and the way things work within it, but
are not themselves influenced by the ecosystem. Ecosystems are
dynamic entities invariably, they are subject to periodic
disturbances and are in the process of recovering from some past
disturbance.
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Although definitions of ecosystem management abound, there is a
common set of principles which underlie these definitions. A
fundamental principle is the long-term sustainability of the
production of goods and services by the ecosystem; It also requires
clear goals with respect to future trajectories and behaviors of
the system being managed. Other important requirements include a
sound ecological understanding of the system, including
connectedness, ecological dynamics and the context in which the
system is embedded.
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Managing independent campuses becomes increasingly difficult as
resources become scarce. Managing multiple campuses adds
complexity, uncertainty, multidimensional, and often
contentiousness in pursuit of scarce resources.
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Can serve distinct populations Can help to filter information
and positively direct information flow Can help to increase
efficiencies
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Can give the institution a black-eye. Make basic tenets of a
multi-cultural institution difficult. Cause faculty/staff isolation
and angst Cause inefficiencies across individual campuses.
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Ideally we want to manage the collective ecosystem (all
campuses as one interdependent organism.) We should recognize that
institutional decisions impact interdependency resulting in
multiple effects (permutations or ripples) throughout the
collective ecosystem. These effects can be; Indirect or cascading
Synergistic Cumulative
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Campus 1 Campus 2 Campus 3 Can goals of the organization be
achieved independent of other sister campuses? Campus 1Campus 2
Campus 3 Can goals of the independent sister campuses be achieved
independent of the primary campus?
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Primary Campus Campus 2Campus 3 Campus 2Campus 3 Primary Campus
Campus congruence to institutional mission and goals Campus
congruence Are there negatives or positives in being closely
aligned to organizational mission and goals? Are there negatives or
positives in being closely aligned to service area
differences?
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Status quo ecosystem management Slow evolution of components
within the ecosystem Accelerated evolution of components within the
ecosystem Abrupt change or disruption of the ecosystem
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Tipping Point (Critical Mass)
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Command means to have authority over or to direct resources.
Control means to manipulate, govern, manage, or regulate, in the
sense of observing a given situation. Assessing the difference from
the desired state (stated institutional strategic goals and
objectives) from the specific needs of the satellite campus and
having the authority to act on campus differences.
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Pathological Organization Bureaucratic Organization Adaptive
Organization Dont want to knowMay not find outActively seek
information Messengers are shotMessengers are listened to-if they
arrive Messengers are trained and rewarded Responsibility is
shirked Responsibility is compartmentalized Responsibility is
shared Bridging is discouragedBridging is allowed but neglected
Bridging is rewarded Failure is punished or covered up Organization
is just and merciful Failure results in learning and redirection
New ideas are crushedNew ideas present problems New ideas are
sought and welcomed
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An adaptive organization is one that actively engages its
environment, seeking information (positive or negative), rewarding
those that bring it, and learning from it.
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In times of turbulent change in which survival is threatened,
questions may arise as to the most viable approach to mediate
threats. Should the focus be on the entire ecosystem? Should the
focus be tailored to the survival of the species
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Prescribing remedies that protect the entire ecosystem
(organization). Exp. Standard operating procedures, public
relations, human resource processes. Pros can save money by
centralizing functions, offer legal protection from having
unclear/ambiguous processes between organisms. Cons can restrict
operations or individual campus development in targeting specific
populations in meeting organizational goals.
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The fine filter approach focuses on protecting individual
species or guilds (species that exploit a similar resource a
similar way). Exp. Wolves or whooping cranes Pros- appeals to
stakeholders that have an affinity for maintaining status quo or
historical references Cons does not examine the larger impact on
the entire ecosystem.
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Routine Culture Incentives / Rewards Systems Conflict vs.
Conforming Control vs. Flexibility
