How Australian Deans and Faculty Managers Work Together Working in the Diarchy How Australian Deans and Faculty Managers Work Together Maddy McMaster RMIT University, Melbourne 25 August 2008

Key Propositions Popular models of higher education as organisations don’t fully explain Australian universities University organisation as a ‘diarchy’: parallel hierarchies Different assumptions about work by academic and administrative staff

BLAINEY,G (1957) A Centenary History of the University of Melbourne p 110

University as Diarchy Two distinct work cultures Tensions between academic and administrative roles Tensions between collegial and managerial models of universities McInnis – disenchantment because lack of recognition Whyley & Callender 1997 UK – lack of career progression & lack of professional recognition McInnis, Coaldrake & Stedman 99 – blurring/convergence of roles Shared values about scholarship – teaching & research – but maybe different values about purpose of university – von Humboldt early 19th century (learning for its own sake; academic freedom) and Cardinal Newman 1852 Idea of the University – creation of knowledge for its own sake Vs values re university as a public institution – social purposes

How do Deans and Faculty Managers Work Together? Work at the intersection of parallel hierarchies Interviewed 18 deans and 18 faculty managers in six universities Found differences not explained by formal structures or position descriptions Three styles of working partnership

Nested Partnership Dean Faculty Manager

Nested Partnership Dean: hands-on, administrator, internal focus Faculty Manager: facilitator or expert advisor

Role of the Nested Dean The buck stops here! Dean, Science/Technology Technological University

Some days I wish we were still academics but it’s too late to go back to that. I’m quite out of touch with contemporary literature. Dean, Humanities, Established University

I’ve been seven years out of an academic role I’ve been seven years out of an academic role. I’d need a massive retraining period to go back. And I would get bored: I’m too far removed. Dean, Business, New University

Role of the Nested FM Give the dean strategic guidance so that he or she doesn't plunge into some dark hole in terms of staffing, industrial relations, load, student matters. Faculty Manager, Science & Technology, Technological University

It's a connecting and interpreting role It's a connecting and interpreting role. My most important role is to translate university policy - to make it discipline specific, but not so specific you lose sight of the core business. FM Business, Technological University

Conjoint Partnership Dean Faculty Manager

Conjoint Partnership Dean: academic leader, sets directions Faculty Manager: administrative leader, plans, implements policy, advises on implications

Role of the Conjoint Dean I continue to maintain a fairly active research life, which means that most of my non-dean’s time is spent writing – reading and writing. And that’s terrific – it’s the best form of therapy. … Probably more of that time ought to be spent thinking strategically. Dean, Humanities, Established University

It's analogous to a government minister and a head of a government department. One has the political responsibilities and sets policy; the other makes sure administrative systems are in place and gives policy advice. Dean Science/Technology, Established University

Role of the Conjoint FM The (faculty manager's) role is far more involved with academic decision-making than before. When the faculty executive meets on a weekly basis, her contribution to what are clearly academic issues is just as strong as anyone else. Dean Humanities, Established University

Parallel but not equal. FM Humanities, Established University

We deal with exactly the same issues: he is the academic leader in the faculty, I am the administrative leader in the faculty. The (faculty manager) makes sure things happen. FM Science/Technology, Established University

Segmented Partnership Dean Faculty Manager

Segmented Partnership Dean and Faculty Manager work on different tasks

Role of the Segmented Dean I'm not a traveller by nature: my style is more internal than other deans. I'm a data person … I have a keen interest in the budget, although I'm not an accountant. Dean Science/Technology, Technological University

Role of the Segmented FM Administration is the engine room. When it's working best you don't even know it's there. Faculty Manager Humanities, Technological University

Segmented Partnership Role Focus Nested Partnership Conjoint Partnership Segmented Partnership Dean Plans/decides full range of matters Jointly plans and decides full range of matters Plans, decides and implements narrower range Faculty Manager Implements plans and decisions on advice from the Dean Jointly plans and implements full range of matters Plans, decides and implements defined range of matters

Segmented Partnership Characteristics Nested Partnership Conjoint Partnership Segmented Partnership Hands-on administrator deans Strong executive team; academic deans Delegations drive specialisation Deans communicate (internal & external) Deans communicate externally; FMs internal networks Deans & FMs focus on internal networks related to responsibility

Key Influences Systemic drivers Culture/history of the workplace Individual behaviours: identification with academic or administrative work culture major influence

Role Identification Conjoint Segmented Nested Dean FM Academic Identifies with … Academic Administrative FM Conjoint Segmented Nested

Role Identification - Deans Linked to motivation for becoming dean Academic deans: ‘accidental tourist’ or ‘good citizen’ deans Administrative deans: ‘career track’ or ‘corporate’ deans

Role Identification - FMs Linked to career level entry in university administration Generalist administrators Professional converts Former academics

Contact Details Dr Maddy McMaster Academic Registrar RMIT University Melbourne, Australia maddy.mcmaster@rmit.edu.au