洛杉矶成人教育学校的兴衰——基于旧制度主义的分析

The Rise and Fall of Adult Schools in Los Angeles——On the Perspective of Old Institutionalism

20世纪20至50年代,洛杉矶成人教育学校由兴而衰。运用旧制度主义分析发现,洛杉矶成人学校的兴衰与当时的制度环境息息相关。边缘地位、模糊目标与拨款方式催生非预期状况,增大了领导者决策压力。洛杉矶成人教育学校偏离正式目标运行,政策规定的行政逻辑、以学生意愿为准的市场需求、短时高利的商业模式得以渗透进组织内部,最终演变成为多种利益诉求的容器。组织的制度化程度越深,洛杉矶成人教育学校与外部组织捆绑越紧,其决策惯性也越大。由此衍生出风险与危机,需依靠领导力与独特竞争力应对。针对洛杉矶成人教育学校兴衰的分析彰显出旧制度主义理论的解释力与生命力。

Adult schools in Los Angeles went through a process of rise and fall from the 1920sto the 1950s.It is found that the rise and fall of adult schools were closely related to the institutional environment at that time through the analysis of old institutionalism.Peripheral status,ambiguous goals,and funding policies created unexpected situations and intensified the pressure on leaders to make decisions.The Los Angeles adult schools deviated from their formal goals.The administrative logic of policy regulations,student interest-based market demand,and short-term and high-profit business models had infused into the organization,and the organization eventually became a container for multiple interests and demands.The deeper the degree of institutionalization,the tighter the Los Angeles adult schools were tied to external organizations and the greater their decision-making inertia.Risks and crises were derived from these elements and need to be dealt with by leadership and distinctive competence.The analysis of the rise and fall of Los Angeles adult schools highlights the explanatory power and vitality of old institutionalism.