Competing Models of Effectiveness in Research Centers and Institutes in the Florida State University System

This is a study about organizational effectiveness in research centers and institutes (CIs) within public higher education institutions. In particular, this study focuses on how to measure their effectiveness by integrating competing conceptions of effectiveness. This study uses a linear programming method called Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to examine the relative performance or organizational effectiveness of CIs based on the Competing Values Framework (CVF) as a theoretical foundation. The CVF encompasses four representative organizational effectiveness models: rational goal model, open system model, human relations model, and internal process model. Thus, in one framework, it provides the researcher with a systematically integrated way to evaluate organizational effectiveness, and affords much latitude in dealing with various different organizational contexts. Because of its utility in drawing together a variety of theoretical approaches to organizational effectiveness, the framework provides stakeholders with a balanced perspective between different organizational values. By employing DEA methodology, this study identified the "best practice" exhibited by organizations on the efficient frontier and makes recommendations regarding how sub-"best practice" CIs could become more efficient and perform according to "best practice" standards in each model of the CVF. The DEA methodology is innovative and unique in that it determines "best practice" CIs rather than the traditional comparison to "average" performance that characterizes the analytic approach most researchers currently use. This dissertation confirmed that it is better for evaluators to consider four different values, rational goal, relations with environment, human relations within the organizations, and internal work process, for a balanced judgment of effectiveness of subject organizations. In addition, a new approach combining CVF and DEA is a useful measurement tool for organizational effectiveness and a potential management tool to stimulate organizational performance. As important members of universities, CIs provide students with ample opportunities to engage their research interests. Through research activities, public service, and teaching and training by CIs, students can be trained and constituencies can be provided new knowledge-based technology and practical services. This role of the CIs is important for the future of society, and this research contributes to their effort by measuring their performance or effectiveness with a novel approach, DEA, based on the integrated theoretical foundation of organizational effectiveness, CVF. This study finds several useful results. First, the study suggests that if one wants to evaluate organizational effectiveness, using several different models is a better approach than using the traditional goal model alone to avoid misdiagnosis of the effectiveness of the organizations. Second, managers should avoid definitive effectiveness comparisons between CIs supported by different disciplines; comparisons between CIs within the same discipline are shown to be more appropriate. Third, a new approach which integrates DEA and CVF has a potential to evaluate organizational effectiveness and to be used as an organizational management tool, but other qualitative methods should be used to get additional important information about the subject organizations. University administrators and research fund providers such as federal, state, and local governments who are interested in the understanding and knowledge of student success in postsecondary education could use the results of this study to serve a variety of private and public interests