The Influence Of Committee System On Management Decisions In Tertiary Education Institutions

Abstract

Purpose: This study seeks to examine factors influencing management decisions on committees, identify whether committees’ work delay in decision making and ascertain how often Management pre- decides on issues that come before them. Design/Methodology/ Approach: Descriptive survey design was adopted for this study. A sample of 170 participants comprising 95 Senior Members, 25 Senior Administrative Staff, 45 Committee Members and 5 members of University Management. Simple random and purposive sampling methods were used to select the population for the study. Data was collected through the use of questionnaire and unstructured interview for both committee members and non-committee members. Data were analysed descriptively using mean and standard deviation. The responses from the interview were transcribed and analysed in themes in line with the research questions for the study. Findings: The findings revealed that the committee system had a high influence on the management tool for administering the University on democratic principles and as such should continue to be a tool for the University governance. The study concluded that management is handicapped in implementing some of the committees’ recommendations due to reasons such as financial constraints, human resources, logistics, legal, environment, political issues, administrative support, among others. The study recommended that, for the committee system to be seen as a very effective decision-making tool in the tertiary education institutions, the university management should employ all the necessary means possible to implement committees’ recommendations. In addition, by way of policy, there should be statutory provision to ensure that one person does not serve on so many Committees. Research Limitation/Implication: The study focus on factors influencing management’s decisions on committees. The study concentrated mainly on Cape Coast Technical University as a case study. Practical Implication: The knowledge advanced in this study will inform the management of Cape Coast Technical University prospects and challenges of the committees' system. Social Implication: The knowledge advanced in this study will help policy-makers in the administration of higher educational institutions. It will again help them to review some existing committees to streamline them to make them more effective and efficient. Originality/ Value: The paper presents the first investigation of the committee system in tertiary education institutions. It will aid in the discussions between a range of academics, committee members, and non-committee members about the roles of the committee system in university governance, the importance of committees, and the effective way of managing a university’s committee system. These can provide valuable pointers for policymakers in other tertiary education.