Collegiate Administrator Perceptions of Organizational Culture: An Analysis of Metaphors

This study sought to characterize college and university administrator perceptions of organizational culture, their perceptions of themselves versus other subcultures, and their perceptions of themselves within the campus community. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, this research employed semi-structured individual interviews to explore cultural perspectives, using metaphor analysis to generate rich, detailed participant descriptions and perceptions. Participants representing the areas of admissions, student affairs, development, and planning comprised the cross-section of purposefully selected participants from ten private northeast institutions. Results may clarify the roles and effectiveness of administrators within campus communities, establishing them as a legitimate collegiate subculture