Academic stratification and functional theory.

Autor/inn/en	Kamens, David H.; Sarup, Gian
Titel	Academic stratification and functional theory.
Quelle	In: Research in higher education, (1980) 2, S.121-138Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0361-0365
DOI	10.1007/BF00976192
Schlagwörter	Organizational Structure; Education Research; Organizational Feature; Reward System; Individual Faculty
Abstract	Abstract This paper examines empirically a set of propositions on organizational stratification drawn from functional theory. The data consist of 38 departments of a large university which are treated as contextual units, as well as the responses of individual faculty to a survey. The findings present an interesting theoretical paradox: (1) functional arguments do not appear adequate to account for differences in income stratification among departments, but (2) they do explain participants' beliefs and judgments about the legitimacy of organizational reward systems. The implications are discussed, and a line of inquiry is suggested that would focus on the problem of establishing legitimacy with the environment(s) as a major source of organizational structure. It is suggested that organizational features act as symbolic devices that inform others that a given organization is a competent member of its set. In short, it is conforming to agreed upon definitions of the appropriate—most “rational”—structure for thattype of organization.
Erfasst von	OLC
Update	2023/2/05