The Determinants of Conflict on Governing Boards in Public Organizations: The Case of California School Boards

Abstract

This article examines the influence of extrinsic and intrinsic factors on decision-making conflict on governing boards in public organizations. Using survey data from more than 700 school board members in California, I investigate the degree to which various characteristics of the environment in which the board operates, processes the board implements, and traits of board members themselves predict how often the board experiences division among its members and how well its members report being able to work together. The findings point out that external characteristics play a large role in predicting intraboard conflict. In particular, boards in urban districts with large numbers of nonwhite students and more active interest group environments experience greater conflict. However, internal characteristics also make a difference. Boards that use more professional decision practices and whose members share a common vision for their work experience conflict at substantially lower rates. Also, whereas ideological heterogeneity among board members positively predicts conflict, contrary to expectations, racial diversity is associated with less division among board members.

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