Abstract
This article analyzes the role of the communication department chairperson as a change agent within academic institutions. Drawing from situational leadership and the “linking pin” concept, the discussion emphasizes how chairs connect faculty with higher administration, often mediating change initiated from above. The process of planned change is outlined through seven phases, from recognizing the need for assistance to stabilizing and generalizing new practices. The chair’s responsibilities include diagnosing problems, assessing motivations and capacities for change, establishing collaborative relationships, guiding the process, and evaluating outcomes. The article stresses that resistance to change is natural and should be managed constructively, with faculty participation central to long-term success. Effective change requires small trial steps, open feedback, and careful anticipation of side effects. The chair is thus positioned as both mediator and facilitator, ensuring that institutional goals are met while preserving faculty engagement.
Recommended Citation
Welch, Betty Jo
(1987)
"The Communication Chairperson as an Agent of Change,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 60, Article 10.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol60/iss1/10
