A 1975 study of decision-making in three university departments was designed to generate theory about the decision-making process in academic departments. The primary method of data collection was semistructured interviews with faculty members. Results show that members of the three departments shared general professional norms of: (1) individual autonomy; (2) a limited role for the department chairman; and (3) peer review. However, the operational definitions of these norms varied, and these differences can be explained within a theory. (MSE)