Common Assumptions about Organizations That Mislead Institutional Researchers and Their Clients

Institutional researchers need to be aware of the theoretical and normative assumptions they hold regarding the character of institutional behavior. Some commonly held assumptions can lead to inaccurate assessments of rational organizational behavior. Many people's concepts about the nature of institutional intelligence, resources, goals, and problems appear faulty based on contemporary organizational theory. These faulty assumptions lead to misdiagnosing leaders' and policymakers' actions and lessen the impact of institutional research.