Policy environments and system design: Understanding state governance structures

This article is based on a national comparative study of state higher educa tion governance structures. The study sought to improve understanding of ho w differences in the state governance structures affect system performance. This article develops a new framework for examining such structures and it s implications for state policy. The study suggests that statewide governan ce is best understood as the result of the interaction between the framewor k's two dimensions: policy environment and system design.