A multiframe perspective of leadership and organizational climate in intercollegiate athletics

This study used the "multiframe" (structural, human resource, political, and symbolic) organizational theory of Bolman and Deal (1991b) to examine aspects of leadership and organizational climate in intercollegiate athletic departments. Top-5 finalist athletic departments from 4 collegiate divisions (NCAA I, II, and III and NAIA) for the 1995-96 Sears Directors' Cup award served as the sample. The 4 frames were all useful as descriptors of leadership and climate among the departments. However, ADs and head coaches differed significantly in their perceptions of the frame best describing AD leadership. There was evidence of strong agreement on perceptions of climate within several departments, but the political frame was perceived as least descriptive at every level of analysis. A MANOVA uncovered no significant differences in perceptions of the 4 frames with gender and division of competition as independent variables. Multiple regression revealed that different frames predict how employees perceive their ADs' effectiveness as managers and leaders.