ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews some of the many models that have been proposed by researchers in their attempts to clarify the major organizational aspects of the educational institutions. Although examples will be given of all of the major perspectives, no attempt will be made to review all of the literature in this area, for it is voluminous. Moreover, it will be argued that, while several of the perspectives make important contributions to our understanding, they also have limitations, and the chapter outlines a possible step forward in theory. Historically, the most influential models of management within higher educational institutions have stressed various aspects of rationality. Strict analytic-rational models have sometimes been replaced by what Cuthbert describes as pragmatic-rational models where the idea of informed choice is retained as far as possible while recognising the absence of a complete consensus on organizational objectives. The term 'organized anarch' has been put forward by Cohen and March as the most appropriate model for university organization.
