24. HAZMAT Tracking: Compatibility Organizational Theory Case Study

Universities, colleges and research centers have always been incubation centers for ideas, intellectual property and research on new technologies in the United States. Prior to Patriot Act, the only mandates universities, colleges and research centers faced were with radioactive material (e.g. U-235) and environmental protection guidelines (e.g. waste). After the passage of the Bioterrorism Preparedness 256 and Response Act of 2002 and the Homeland Security Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards passed in 2007, higher education institutions as well as research centers now are having to control for biological agents and chemical elements that are now mandated to be reported to the federal government under specific criteria. That being stated, organizational decision-making in universities, colleges and research centers have organizational culture to take into account when new procedures and policies are to be implemented. The case study seen in this chapter analyzes the decision-making process in context of the organizational culture when the new mandates were passed by the federal government for homeland security and disaster response purposes.