This chapter explores organizational theory including inter-organizational behavior and several pro-social concerns for both individuals and organizations. A wide range of organizational theories support academy-business inter-organizational partnership functionality. Such theories include rational, natural, and open systems; identity and pro-social behavior; institutional theory; resource dependence theory; social exchange theory; stakeholder theory; and academic capitalism. Inter-organizational behavior is supported by network functionality as well as cross-sectional involvement by the federal and state governments. Inter-organizational partnerships are complex. Little research has been a focus specifically between higher education and companies. The academy-business inter-organizational partnership typology is introduced as a framework for exploring these relationships including concerns of philanthropic, transactional, symbiotic, and synergistic partnership dimensions.
Partnerships range from informal ventures to more formal affairs with operating procedures and governance systems. (Eddy, 2010, p. viii)
The marriage contract is probably the most widely familiar formalization of collaboration. It states, demands, and implies duties and mutual obligations which, in theory at least, should shape the lasting character of the relationship. (Bryant, 2003, p. 25)
TopPartnership Foundations: Trust, Beneficence, And Ethical Action
As two parties come together and seek a relationship with one another, each possess individual goals and purposes. “The reasons for forming a partnership are varied, with motivations being driven intrinsically or extrinsically or sometimes simultaneously” (Eddy, 2010, p. 18). For example, when two adults begin a friendship, perhaps move to courtship, and—in some cases—make their partnership permanent through marriage, they are each seeking something for themselves in the partnership (Bryant, 2003; Kanter, 1994). A number of questions come to mind. What brings them into a potential partnership? What motivates them to move to a committed level of partnership? How do their motives differ? To what extent are the identities of each partner preserved? Where are the ethical conflicts emerging from these differences in motivations? How well does the partnership meet the needs of both partners? Likewise, inter-organizational partnerships stem from a self-analysis; chemistry between organizations through values, mission, vision, and people; and determination of compatibility (Kanter, 1994). Creating positive, productive relationships requires win-win solutions for both parties (Bruch & Walter, 2005; Carroll, Brown, & Buchholtz, 2017; Eddy, 2010; Levy, 2001; Morgan, 2006; Siegel, 2012). This process is “a give-and-take relationship and must include mutual interest, mutual benefit, shared vision, joint ownership, joint responsibility, structure, communication, and attention to the relationship (Cumberland & Jessup, 2003; Heath & Isbell, 2017). The most important goal is to maintain balance and ethical action in these relationships (Anderson, 2001).
Higher education exists to continue to foster development of the individual mind and to prepare individuals for careers and life work (Berger & Fisher, 2013; Clark, 1965). Over time, however, the liberal education agenda and the professional education agenda have subverted one another, often times competed, and yet other times melded; both are important and capable of being woven together (Labaree, 2006). Specifically, education can provide a foundation for individual growth, professional training, and ultimately social mobility (Collins, 2019; Rhodes, 2001). Higher education contributes in a multitude of ways to society via science, medicine, art, humanity, and many other disciplines to improve and to enlighten the world (Clevenger, 2014; Gould, 2003). Higher education seeks to advance public or societal goals (Clevenger, 2014; 2019) and serves to support and promote the “democratic mission” of individual responsibility (Benson, Harkavy, & Hartley, 2005, p. 191). The for-profit sector, known as businesses or corporate America, serves as the economic cornerstone of the U.S. capitalistic economy in a democratic republic (Carroll et al., 2017; Drucker, 1946; Gould, 2003).