Measuring Organizational Effectiveness in Institutions of Higher Education

Abstract

The following are some of the criticisms which have been advanced concerning the goal approach to effectiveness: (1) There is a focus on official or management goals to the exclusion of the organizational member, organizational constituency, and societal goals (Blau and Scott, 1961; Scriven, 1967). (2) There is neglect of implicit, latent, or informal procedures and goals (Merton, 1957). (3) There is neglect of the multiple and contradictory nature of organizational goals (Rice, 1963). (4) Environmental influences on the organization and its goals are ignored (Lawrence and Lorsch, 1969). (5) Organizational goals are retrospective and serve to justify organizational action, not to direct it (Weich, 1969). (6) Organizational goals change as contextual factors and organizational behavior change (Warner, 1967; Pfiffner, 1977).