In the collegial institution there is an emphasis on consensus and shared power. The community minimizes status inequalities, while faculty and administrators interact as equals. One drawback that Birnbaum mentions is the extended length of time it takes to make major decisions because this is generally done by consensus. A successful leader will conform to and model the values and expectations of the community at large.
A bureaucratic institution revolves around systems and processes put into place as a result of rational, analytical decision making. This culture places a great deal of emphasis on written job descriptions as opposed to the unwritten standards preferred in the collegial organization. A successful leader needs to fulfill the role of rational analyst and be able to design effective systems of control.
Political institutions tend to be larger and decentralized. They are made up of smaller, heterogenous groups that have different and often competing goals. Leaders from many groups are then in competition for the influence and resources they need and want in order to advance their group's agenda. A successful leader in a political organization focuses less on data and analytical reports and more on an informal and personal style of collecting information about each group’s needs. It is vital for this leader to build relationships and connections with many different people of influence within the organization at large and act as a facilitator in clarifying group values and helping the community resolve issues within itself.
The anarchical institution presents several significant problems. One of the most significant is that of problematic goals. In a community with a large number of autonomous players, a broad goal like “provide a quality education” is interpreted in as many ways as there are people to interpret it. This causes problems not only with choosing actions to achieve your goals, but knowing if and when you have arrived at them. Another issue raised by Birnbaum is that participation in these organizations is often fluid. People who sit on a committee one year are likely to be replaced the next year by new players. This confounds any attempt at continuity of purpose. A successful leader in this type of organization must have the ability to speak to and relate to a wide variety of audiences, while projecting the image of a competent, reliable leader to each one.