Decision-making in the shadows? Challenges and prospects of committee systems in higher education institutions in Ghana

https://doi.org/10.51867/scimundi.5.1.15

Authors

Keywords:

Challenges, Committee System, Decision-Making, Higher Education, Prospects, Public Universities

Abstract

This study examined the dynamics of the Committee System in Management Decisions (CSMD) within a public university in Ghana, focusing on both its limitations and potential for reform. Grounded in systems theory, the research employed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach. The initial quantitative phase drew on 792 valid responses from a diverse group of stakeholders, including academic and administrative senior members, senior staff, and individuals serving on various statutory committees. Participants were selected through purposive and proportionate stratified random sampling to ensure broad institutional representation. Data on perceived challenges and possible improvements were gathered via structured questionnaires and analysed using independent samples t-tests. The subsequent qualitative phase involved 20 semi-structured interviews with committee chairpersons, active committee members, and staff not involved in committee work, with the responses subjected to thematic analysis. The findings revealed several systemic bottlenecks impeding the optimal functioning of CSMDs. These included insufficient logistical support, lack of adequate motivation for committee members, and undue influence from managerial levels. Nevertheless, the study also identified viable prospects for revitalizing committee effectiveness, notably through the integration of digital platforms, improved procedural coordination, and capacity building. It recommends strengthening digital infrastructure, streamlining logistical procedures, recognizing committee work through incentives, and ensuring regular feedback between committees and leadership. Emphasis is also placed on addressing workload imbalances and supporting staff well-being. While the CSMD continues to serve as a critical pillar of participatory governance within the university context, its success is contingent upon institutional commitment to transparency, structured engagement, and resource provision.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Dimensions

Ackoff, R. L. (1999). Ackoff's best: His classic writings on management. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195123876.003.0003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195123876.003.0003

Agyenim-Boateng, C., Osei, C. D., & Aboagye, E. (2000). Decentralisation and university governance in Ghana: Issues and prospects. Ghana Universities Press.

Ashcroft, K., & Rayner, P. (2011). Higher education and national development: Universities and societies in transition. Routledge.

Blair, J. D., & Fawcett, S. E. (2008). The challenges of managing collaborative governance in higher education. International Journal of Public Sector Management, 21(4), 349-367. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513550810880222

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa DOI: https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Checkland, P. (1981). Systems thinking, systems practice. Wiley.

Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2018). Research methods in education (8th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315456539 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315456539

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2018). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.

De Boer, H., Enders, J., & Schimank, U. (2007). On the way towards new public management? The governance of university systems in England, the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany. In D. Jansen (Ed.), New forms of governance in research organizations (pp. 137-152). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5831-8_7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5831-8_5

Field, A. (2013). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Fynn, A., & van der Walt, H. D. (2022). Examining staff burnout during the transition to teaching online due to COVID-19: Evidence from a South African open-distance e-learning university. South African Journal of Human Resource Management, 21, a2062. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v21i0.2062 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v21i0.2062

Glover, I., & Latif, U. (2022). Barriers to digital transformation in higher education institutions: A qualitative case study. Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV '22), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1145/3560107.3560135 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3560107.3560135

IIEP-UNESCO. (2015). Internal quality assurance: Enhancing higher education quality and graduate employability. UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000233704

Jabbar, A. (2012). University committee effectiveness: The role of structure, leadership, and member competence. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 34(1), 61-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2012.642334 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2012.642334

Kabeyi, M. J. (2019). Organizational strategic planning, implementation and evaluation: Analysis of challenges and benefits for profit and nonprofit organizations. International Journal of Applied Research and Studies, 5(6), 27-32. https://doi.org/10.22271/allresearch.2019.v5.i6a.5870 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/allresearch.2019.v5.i6a.5870

Kline, P. (1999). The handbook of psychological testing (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607-610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308

Loglo, F. S. (2024). Towards digital transformation of selected Ghanaian public universities: Leadership enablers, challenges, and opportunities. Open Praxis, 16(3), 374-395. https://doi.org/10.55982/openpraxis.16.3.700 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55982/openpraxis.16.3.700

Luescher-Mamashela, T. M. (2013). Student representation in university decision-making: Good reasons, a new lens? Studies in Higher Education, 38(10), 1442-1456. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2011.625496 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2011.625496

Mohamedbhai, G. (2014). Massification in higher education institutions in Africa: Causes, consequences, and responses. International Journal of African Higher Education, 1(1), 59-83. https://doi.org/10.6017/ijahe.v1i1.5644 DOI: https://doi.org/10.6017/ijahe.v1i1.5644

Obeng-Sarpong, C., Buor, D., & Addo, P. K. (2024). An assessment of governance challenges in higher education institutions in Ghana. Ghana Journal of Higher Education Management, 6, 89-108. https://journals.uew.edu.gh/index.php/ghajhem/article/view/304

Onia, S. (2023). E-governance and community outreach in higher education institutions in Sudan. Moroccan Journal of Quantitative and Qualitative Research, 7(3). https://doi.org/10.48379/IMIST.PRSM/mjqr-v7i3.55940

https://doi.org/10.17509/ijert.v3i1.46137 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17509/ijert.v3i1.46137

Pallant, J. (2020). SPSS survival manual: A step-by-step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003117452

https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003117407 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003117407

Saani, A. J., & Boateng, W. (2019). Constituents' participation and commitment to the governance process of universities in Ghana. Makerere Journal of Higher Education, 11(1), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.4314/majohe.v11i1.3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/majohe.v11i1.3

Senge, P. M. (2006). The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization (Revised ed.). Doubleday.

Tashakkori, A., & Teddlie, C. (2003). Handbook of mixed methods in social & behavioral research. SAGE Publications.

Teferra, D., & Altbach, P. G. (2004). African higher education: Challenges for the 21st century. Higher Education, 47(1), 21-50. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HIGH.0000009822.49980.30 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HIGH.0000009822.49980.30

Tettey, W. J. (2006). Staff retention in African universities: Elements of a sustainable strategy. World Bank Report on Higher Education. https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/827321468193759898

https://doi.org/10.1596/36697 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1596/36697

Tettey, W. J. (2017). Governance challenges in African higher education. In P. T. Zeleza & N. Olukoshi (Eds.), The African University and the 21st Century (pp. 101-120). CODESRIA.

Tight, M. (2014). Higher education: A critical business. Routledge.

Tuckman, B. W. (2009). Conducting educational research (6th ed.). Rowman & Littlefield.

UNESCO. (2022). Enhancing equitable access to digital learning in African universities: A post-COVID review. UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381803

Vurayai, P. (2024). Digital inequality and online learning in higher education: Post-pandemic reflections from sub-Saharan Africa. Education and Information Technologies, 29, 335-350. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-12038-4

Published

2025-06-23

How to Cite

Entsie, N. Y., Owusu-Cole, C., Armah, C., Moomin, U. F., & Darkoa, M. (2025). Decision-making in the shadows? Challenges and prospects of committee systems in higher education institutions in Ghana. SCIENCE MUNDI, 5(1), 170–183. https://doi.org/10.51867/scimundi.5.1.15

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2025): Jan-Jun 2025

Section

Articles
Copyright & Licensing

Copyright (c) 2025 Nasir Yaqub Entsie, Clement Owusu-Cole, Comfort Armah, Umar Farouk Moomin, Margaret Darkoa

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC