Helen Burn How/Why do Departments Organize Around Innovation Janet Ray, Professor Emeritus, Seattle Central Conmunity College Helen Burn, Highline Community College

Think-Share How do innovative ideas move from idea to reality in your department? For example, think of a past experience where a department member(s) wanted to try something new. Describe how things progressed.

Helpful Theory Things that are institutionalized provide frameworks or constraints for organizational activity Examples in our context: Tenure Organizing the curriculum by disciplines Prestige hierarchy of the disciplines Faculty control over curriculum Concern for diversity Use of textbooks in math courses The algebra curriculum General education Departmental culture

Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership, 3 rd Ed., Bolman & Deal, 2003 Use multiple lenses (frames) to get a sense of your departmental or college culture and what you’re up against and what you might do. Structural –Rational, bureaucratic. Emphasizes goals, formal roles rules, and relationships. Human Resource – Department as extended family. Emphasizes collegiality, individual needs, feelings. Political – Coalitions form around interests. Conflict is normal and typical. Department members negotiate, compete for power or resources. Symbolic- Propelled by image, rituals, ceremonies, stories, heroes, and inspiration, less by rules, policies, and managerial authority.

Effects of Different Departmental Culture of Faculty Reasoning about Course Transfer of Reform College Algebra Three cases: Real World College – Structural/Human Resource City Center Campus of Urban Community College- Political/Symbolic Metropolitan Community College – Structural/Political 27 semi-structured interviews with mathematics faculty in three different community college mathematics department

Reframing for Change Structural Loss of clarity and stability; confusion, chaos Communicating, realigning, and renegotiating formal patterns and policies Human Resource Anxiety, uncertainty; people feel incompetent and needy Training to develop new skills; participation and involvement; psychological support Political Disempowerment; conflict between winners and losers Create arenas where issues can be renegotiated and new coalitions formed Frame Barriers to ChangeEssential Strategies Symbolic Loss of meaning and purpose; clinging to the past Create transition rituals; mourn the past, celebrate the future

Janet Ray Helen Burn