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Initial objectives of this pilot study were to: define the effectiveness and structure of administration in institutions of higher education; explore and identify measures of administrative effectiveness and structure; test the practicability of such definitions and measures against on-going processes at Sussex University; direct, coordinate, and analyze the results of small comparative studies at various European institutions for higher education. Comparisons are made between the systems approach and the behavioral approach. The systems approach is concluded to offer a practicable and profitable methodology that can realize all of the project objectives. Proposals for future research are offered, utilizing a research team with administrative experience and a set of participating institutions, which would determine the comparative effectiveness of alternative administrative structures. The full-scale continuance of the pilot project is advocated. The package for such an application would contain sets of departmental, administrative, and student questionnaires, an information sheet, and a new set of contingency studies. It is concluded that the behavioral approach needs further work for effective application. (LBH)

A set of detailed questionnaires was developed to test a number of hypotheses related to the definition and measurement of practical measures of effectiveness of administration in institutions of higher education. The questionnaires served as the basis of a set of case studies undertaken simultaneously in 19 volunteer institutions during March-May, 1974. The questionnaires are presented, together with their instructions, dealing with departmental procedures and an information sheet providing data on basic statistics of the institution, its formal structure, its status relative to environmental constraints, the state of management technology, and the faculty and departments. An additional administrative questionnaire and one on contingency studies, which should provide some basis for direct objective comparison between the processes of administration at different level of higher education, are also provided. A glossary is included. (LBH)

The methodology is reviewed and recommendations offered regarding alternative administrative structures. A more systematic study of the literature is advocated, along with the establishment of a reference group of administrators to act as advisors to the research team. The research must be focused on more than one department. The systems approach should be preferred as a method, with the behavioral approach developed further before it can be used in a practical project. The next phase of the project has to be drafted in close contact and cooperation with the administrative reference group. The proposed project must be presented to the members of the IMHE program for comments, suggestions, and approval, and time for amendments according to discussion of the project draft should be allowed. It is concluded that execution of the project can take place at the various universities, in cooperation with the administrative reference group members. (LBH)