The Four Frames in Practice

As you can see, the four frames discussed on the previous page provide very different ways in which to tackle a problem. You will likely be called upon to participate in the variety of events and activities listed below, or you may be engaged in one of them right now. It is also quite possible that you may have already done so as part of your job. Either way, the table that follows will provide perspective on the different ways frames can shape how you come at any given issue. It is important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all frame to be used, and that different constituents (faculty, staff, students, trustees, alumni) may come to the table with a very different agenda, and an oftentimes contrary perspective.

Process	Structural	Human Resource	Political	Symbolic
Evaluating	Allocate rewards, control performance	Help people grow and develop	Chance to exercise power	Occasion to play roles in organizational drama
Approaching conflict	Authorities resolve conflict	Individuals confront conflict	Bargaining, forcing, manipulating	Develop shared values, meaning
Goal setting	Keep organization headed in right direction	Keep people involved and informed	Let people make their interests known	Develop symbols, shared value
Strategic planning	Create strategic direction	Meeting to promote participation	Arena to air conflict	Ritual to reassure audiences
Decision-making	Rational process to get right answer	Open process to build commitment	Chance to gain or use power	Ritual to build values, bonding
Reorganizing	Improve structure/ environment fit	Balance needs and tasks	Reallocate power, form new coalitions	Image of accountability, responsiveness
Communication	Transmit facts, information	Exchange information, needs, feelings	Influence or manipulate others	Tell stories
Meetings	Formal occasions to make decisions	Informal occasions to involve, share feelings	Competitive occasions to score points	Sacred occasions to celebrate, transform culture
Motivation	Economic incentives	Growth, self-actualization	Coercion, manipulation, seduction	Symbols, celebrations

*Table 15.1 Bolman and Deal (1997)

For those new to higher education, or even for those that have been in the profession for some time now, conceptualizing the four frames can seem like a daunting task. Different situations will benefit from one perspective over others. As you progress throughout your career knowing which frame makes sense for any given situation will most likely become easier. You will be able to draw on your experience, knowledge, and instinct. The following table is an instructive tool for which frame to utilize, particularly for those new to higher education, or any industry for that matter.

Question	If yes:	If no:
Are individual commitment and motivation essential?	Human resource, symbolic	Structural, political
Is technical quality of decision important?	Structural	Human resource, political, symbolic
Is there high level of ambiguity, uncertainty?	Political, symbolic	Structural, human resource
Are conflict and scarce resource a significant factor?	Political, symbolic	Structural, human resource
Are you working from the bottom up?	Political, symbolic	Structural, human resource

*Table 15.2 Bolman and Deal (1997)