6. Administration of Autonomous Public Universities in Thailand
Most of autonomous public universities in Thailand have utilized “decentralization of power” and “empowerment” strategies. Moreover, they have focused on classical or economic organizational theory and management model of policy implementation and administration.
The classical theory focused on organizational anatomy or structure, managerial processes and functions, and formal organizations. 7
“Empowerment” strategy has been used by the top executive of the university in order to transfer or delegate middle managers/administrators much more authority and responsibility of production/service, marketing, financial, and human resource administration of the university because it could not only stimulate speedy operations and performances, but also reduce bureaucratic costs of university organizations.
This should work well if any empowered manager/administrator has public mind and “good governance”. In contrast, it would be seriously hazardous if any manager/administrator uses the delegated authority and responsibility in any manner of scandal, abuse of conflicts of interest, double standard, partiality, dictatorship, unethical and/or corruption behavior.