Explaining interstate military friendly policy diffusion across U.S. universities: uncovering vertical-diagonal diffusion. Issue 12 (2nd December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fay, Daniel L.; Kinch, Abby; Berry, Frances S.
• Is Part Of: Public management review. Volume 24:Issue 12(2022)
• Page Start: 2053
• Page End: 2078
• Publication Date: 2022-12-02
• Subjects: Military veterans -- Policy diffusion -- Education -- Diversity Management; Local government -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Periodicals; 351.05
• DOI: 10.1080/14719037.2021.1960735
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-9037

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article examines the diffusion of diversity management policies across large state bureaucracies that operate in a national marketplace of ideas. We analyze organizational antecedents and horizontal, vertical, and vertical-diagonal diffusion mechanisms associated with the degree of diversity management convergence among research universities from 2008-2016. Findings suggest the long-theorized, but rarely measured, non-linear pattern of diffusion explains organizational adoptions and the degree of policy convergence across the system. We also show a vertical-diagonal process whereby policy spills over to influence policy choices in other lower-level governance systems. This spillover may explain how organizations make policy decisions in complex governance arrangements.