| The purpose of this study was to determine whether varying cultures within an academic environment had any impact on faculty involvement in faculty development activities. The basis of the study was a book by William Bergquist entitled The Four Cultures of the Academy. The four cultures are managerial, collegial, developmental, and negotiating. DeVry Institute of Technology in Addison, Illinois, was the site of the study.;Every organization has a culture, which may change over time in response to varying situations or conditions. Values, beliefs, and behaviors (culture) will adjust to the new expectations. Cultures also exist within the various departments of an organization.;DeVry, too, has a culture as do the academic departments within DeVry, and those cultures appeared to be in conflict. As a for-profit educational institution with a corporate headquarters, it was appropriate to acknowledge a culture at the corporate level as well as within the DeVry-DuPage campus itself. Those cultures were perceived as being identical and were labeled by both the faculty and the researcher as managerial. By definition, the managerial culture values fiscal responsibility, setting clear measurable goals and objectives intended to result in the betterment of the organization itself. The faculty, however, identified more closely with the developmental culture, which is more concerned with the welfare of individuals and their personal and professional growth, hence the conflict. To achieve personal and professional growth for all faculty and staff, the institution needs to make a commitment of financial resources. Faculty in this study did not feel there was an adequate commitment of financial resources or a commitment to the professional improvement of its faculty.;The benefit to the DeVry organization of a truly effective faculty development program would be the potential for improved faculty morale, improved instructional delivery, improved student retention, improved recruitment, and improved reputation. By taking a collaborative approach to the design and implementation of a faculty development program, the effect of the conflict in cultures can be reduced and the benefits realized. |
