This study examines how differences in the environmental conditions and organizational factors facing each community college contribute to the development of occupational and technical education programs.

This study was driven by one primary research question: What environmental conditions and organizational factors influence the nature of the strategic response in the form of technical education program development within community colleges? To answer this question, a qualitative study of four community colleges in the state of Arkansas was conducted. The organizations studied were: University of Arkansas Community College at Hope, Pulaski Technical College, National Park Community College, and Mid South Community College. These institutions were selected to represent the widest possible range of institutions.

A conceptual framework was developed that included previous research on normative, regulative, and cultural-cognitive environments and organizational response processes. The framework served as a guide to identify how external conditions in these processes influenced the nature of the development of occupational and technical education programs at community colleges in Arkansas.