Volume as organisation theory
Volume two is majorly about the organization and administration of universities and colleges with the application of organizational theory. It outlines how administrators may use this theory to assist them in making sense of the rapidly changing external environment and internal conditions and offer directions for action. The volume argues that while multiple features of organizations have remained unchanged for many years, civilization has presented various problems that are not answered by old theories. The volume covers an in-depth discussion of post-modernism, which offers the understanding that prior notions or consensus were mistaken and must be replaced with new perspectives that consider various epistemological premises that are more relevant to the society. The volume also points out that a multifaceted approach to solving problems in the organization can be made to more effective by relying on more than one theory. The volume offers administrators and leaders with pattern recognition modes that make situations which may appear challenging to be more navigable. The volume also talks about decision making in higher institutions, which as described in the volume, is characterized by disjointed incrementalism; which reflects three forces: inadequate time, using narrow experience instead of theory, and the tendency to limit risks instead of taking bold steps to solve problems. Emerging organizational challenges in higher institutions include cultural shifts, revenue pressures, technological trends, and student engagement. Technological trends are likely to bring the most significant impact in the coming years, which may result in changes that will disrupt the day-to-day operations of institutions. These challenges are likely to cause more difficulty amongst institutional leaders, especially in choosing where they should focus their attention and dedicate the inadequate resources. Higher education institutions are at risk. However, they ought to focus on decreasing the cost of education while at the same time generating more revenue, enhancing the brand experience, and improving the outcome of students. Institution leaders have to be forward-thinking and address any projected challenges.