This study investigates the impact of institutional structure on university governance capability in China, utilizing a novel theoretical framework incorporating time, space, and quantity dimensions. A survey of 742 faculty and staff members reveals that three-dimensional institutional layouts significantly impact governance capabilities, with effects varying by institutional affiliation. Mechanism analysis demonstrates that governance capabilities are manifested through different configurations of governance elements and are influenced by responsiveness, collaboration, and expansion. A threshold effect is identified concerning the tenure of institutional members, highlighting the importance of a strategic institutional layout aligning with the dynamics of governance elements across time, space, and quantity.

Zhimin Luo, Ma Junfeng, Babar Nawaz Abbasi, Li Zilong