Research results concerning determinants of organizational effectiveness of colleges are presented, and concerns pertaining to this type of research are addressed. A major research question is whether the study of institutional effectiveness can identify indicators of long-term organizational viability. In 1980, organizational effectiveness was measured in 29 of 41 schools that had been studied in 1976 (Cameron). Institutional representatives were administered questionnaires that required them to provide descriptive information regarding the extent to which their institution possessed characteristics indicative of effectiveness. The same nine dimensions of effectiveness emerged from this study as have emerged in past research. Factors accounting for high scores on the nine effectiveness dimensions are identified, along with factors accounting for improvement or decline in effectiveness scores. Attention is also directed to characteristics of institutions that improved in their overall effectiveness as compared to those that remained stable or declined in effectiveness. Based on the findings, the importance of environmental factors and managerial strategies in organizational effectiveness is discussed, and the effectiveness of specific types of management strategies are distinguished. (SW)