Research on Humanities and Social Sciences www.iiste.org ISSN (Paper)2224-5766 ISSN (Online)2225-0484 (Online) Vol.5, No.3, 2015 92 Analyzing Theoretical Perspectives of Shared Governance Model Shakeela Shah Faculty of Educational Studies, University Putra Malaysia *E-mail: shakeela.seyed@gmail.com Soaib Asimiran Faculty of Educational Studies, University Putra Malaysia E-mail: soaib@putra.upm.edu.my Prof Zaidatol Akmaliah Lope Pihie Faculty of Educational Studies, University Putra Malaysia Shamsuddin Ahmad Faculty of Educational Studies, University Putra Malaysia Abstract The purpose of this paper is to explore the perspectives of shared governance as this university governance model is adopted by universities in the world involving all stake holders in the governance process specially faculty. Shared governance model is mostly hallmark in American colleges and universities which was promoted by AAUP (American Association of University Professors). Although, some researchers have pointed out its limitations but on the whole this model is successfully practiced in the academia. Keywords Universities, Shared Governance, Participation Paper type Conceptual paper Shared governance has been a hallmark of American colleges and universities for over a generation which is practiced in some institutions in different forms, like constant flow of faculty members in administrative positions, departments’ key link in shared governance, academic senates and students’ element added to shared governance in 60s and 70s dramatically situation altered with students representation shut and faculty influence lost in governance process (Tierney et al. 2003; Baldridge ,1982; Shah et al. 2014). Gradually, decision making became administrative hierarchy. Now the real threat is “Administrative Imperialism may be pushing for centralization and faculty provincialism at tug of war. In this situation shared governance can save universities from decay or administration because it stands for emphasis on sharing not for balance of power the notion of participatory and inclusive governance has been a desire for the academy since 1961 (AAUP, 1966). Shared governance has been universally acknowledged as shared authority or joint participation is a concept promoted by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), the American Council on Education (ACE), and the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) to outline what academic governance ought to be in the United States. The concept embodies the idea that there should be joint effort through communication, mutual interests and understanding between the constituents of colleges and universities in decision-making and in the planning of institutional matters. However, this concept of shared authority has come to be universally accepted (Gallos, 2009; Onwunli and Augustine, 2004). Governance is a process of structure and how making people to function within that structure and a system to comprise the explicit and implicit framework to allocate to various stakeholders the authority and power for making decisions (Lanning, 2006; Kaplan, 2004). In that process a governance model that engages all stakeholders in the process is termed as “shared governance”, “participatory decision-making”, or “team leadership”. As such, the idea of shared governance appears to vary from college to college, as each institution views it a little bit differently (Piland and Bublitz, 1998). Some barriers in shared governance Stephen, Rampp, and Mitchell (2000) believe that shared governance is a popular concept in the academic community. It has potential advantages like shared decision making, total quality management, local decision making and participatory management. They have pinpointed the barriers which need to be addressed to avail maximum output of the shared governance as they argue that its definitions are unclear. Allen (1991) had noted diluting, mergering and sharing of duties and processes assure that participation will be difficult because academic and administration mix and merger via the process of shared governance looks uncomfortable alliance.