Power, Agendas, and Conflict:

1
Power, Agendas, and Conflict  A Political
Analysis of Institution-Level Policy Making in
Intercollegiate Athletics

• Janet M. Holdsworth, Ph.D.
• University of Minnesota
• April 2009

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Background

• Political organization theory
• Higher education institutions as political
  organizations
• Policy arena Intercollegiate athletics

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Research Question

• What are the roles of the formal and informal
  aspects of the political process in
  institution-level policy development in
  intercollegiate athletics?

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Conceptual Framework
Environment
Political Process 1
Political Process 2
Formal Network Athletics Administrators Central
Administrators Coaches Faculty
Policy Development Written Policy Deals Precedent
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Research Design

• Qualitative methodology
• Sample
• Semi-structured interviews
• Data analysis

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Primary Findings
Environment
Political Process 1
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Primary Findings
Environment
Political Process 2
Power Position Individual
Informal Network Policy Developers
Choice of Conflict Arenas Private
Policy Development Written Policies Deals Precede
nt
Agendas Rules/Policies Interests/Beliefs
Informal Network Coalitions
Conflict Arena Public Private
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Secondary Findings

• Title IX compliance
• Leadership issues

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External Internal Environmental Influences
Perceived Political Process 2
Political Process 1
Power Position Individual
Formal Network Athletics Administrators Central
Administrators Coaches Faculty
Public Choice of Conflict Arena Private
Informal Network Policy Developers
Agendas Rules/Policies Interests/Beliefs
Power Position Individual
Policy Development Written Policies Deals Precede
nt
Informal Network Coalitions
Agendas Rules/Policies Interests/Beliefs
Political Process 2
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Significance Implications

• There is an old saying among college presidents
  that the modern university might be viewed as a
  fragile academic enterprise, delicately balanced
  between the medical center at one end of the
  campus and the athletic department at the other.
  The former can threaten the institution
  financially the latter puts at risk the
  universitys integrity, reputation, and academic
  priorities.
• (Duderstadt, 2000, p. vii)
• Research
• Policy
• Practice