SEAHO Report - Summer 2023 - 9

FEATURE ARTICLES
Framing Committees,
Part II
By Katie M. Lewis, University of North Florida
& Dr. Cathy " Coop " Roberts-Cooper, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Welcome back for part two of our article on navigating committees - a common part of most
housing professionals' experiences but a topic that is rarely discussed from the perspective of how
to be a successful member or chair. You are far enough into the fall semester that the committees
you serve are meeting regularly and working toward the accomplishment of goals. We hope that our
previous overview of the Four Frames Model by Bolman and Deal, and specifically the Structural and
Human Resources frames, have guided your understanding of how committees can be successfully
formed and resourced. It is time for us to explore the remaining two frames of Bolman and Deal's
model before we offer suggestions of what you can do next.
The Political Frame considers in what ways individuals and groups come together and negotiate
around differing interests to determine how scarce or limited resources are allocated. Resources
can be money, supplies, time, physical space, staff, decision making power, etc. A key aspect of
the Political Frame is that, " ...goals are not set by edict at the top but evolve through an ongoing
process of negotiation " (Bolman & Deal, 2008, p. 197). The eventual creation of goals and other
arrangements center on the conflict that is at the heart of the differences that brought the group
together. Another part of this frame is that political interests (values, beliefs and perceptions of
reality) become more prevalent during demanding and uncertain times. Our current pandemic
highlights the issues that arise from applying the lens of the Political frame to conflict happening
around us.
Consider the following questions to help look at committees using a political lens:
1. Who are the stakeholders within and outside of the committee?
2. What is on the line for these stakeholders based on the work of the committee?
3. How is power to make and carry out decisions distributed? (within the committee and
between stakeholders outside of the committee)
4. In what ways will conflict be managed within the committee that balances problem-solving
and respectful interactions?
The Political Frame can be applied to committee work by chairs and committee members alike,
especially as it pertains to what Bolman and Deal call " sources of power " (2008, p. 203). These
sources include, but are not limited to positional power, control of rewards, how information is
shared, the reputation of individuals or groups within the committee, alliances and networks, and
control of agendas. Engaging in political considerations in your committee depends on " mapping
the political terrain " (p. 216) by examining how information is informally communicated, identifying
the main influencers of the issue, considering how to mobilize stakeholders, and by trying to
anticipate sources of resistance to collaboration. When it comes to the start of the committee, the
chair plays a key role in setting the agenda that articulates the interests of stakeholders, known
options for success, and time to explore interests and resources that may not yet be known. A
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SEAHO Report - Summer 2023

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