State Administrators' Perspectives on Environmental Factors Facing Cooperative Extension

Abstract

Cooperative Extension is a complex organization with a mission to deliver research from the Land-Grant University to all U.S. communities. To inform the direction for organization adaptation, this qualitative study investigated Extension administrator perspectives of the environmental factor changes facing the organization. Findings reveal that Extension needs to respond to shifts in funding and clientele demographics. Organizational adaptation can cause long-term stakeholders to fear loss and act against the organization. Administrators must be responsive to traditional stakeholder concerns and build a shared understanding of the mission to reduce shifting focus friction and facilitate the organization adaptation necessary for survival.