UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIORS AT ACADEMIC ORGANIZATIONS

Abstract

The way we respond to organization and management issues is determined by the organization
culture, structure, environment and context. Most people work in organizations between two
extremes: Either given autonomy and trusted to deliver, or continuously monitored through the
command and control system with all tasks specified. It is important to have the right model of
organization behavior. An emphasis should be placed on connecting with employees. Their ideas and
knowledge should be valued. Listening to their needs will repay itself and will drive them towards
responsible behavior. We present here insights about higher education organizations in the Middle
East, by presenting snapshots from personal experiences and observations as mini-cases to describe
the behavioral patterns that arise in this academic and administrative context. We describe the
dynamics of the different groups at universities and try to see how universities provide good examples
of complex adaptive systems.