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Strategic change in the academy: controlling and/or enabling strategies
Citation
Pisapia, J and Townsend, T and Razzaq, J, Strategic change in the academy: controlling and/or enabling strategies, Journal of Change Management, 17, (4) pp. 321-343. ISSN 1469-7017 (2017) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
DOI: doi:10.1080/14697017.2016.1253601
Abstract
This study describes the strategic change efforts of a university in the United Kingdom which changed its form and resource deployments to focus on the production of interdisciplinary research. A problem-oriented case study method was used to chronicle and analyse the leadership strategies and tactics employed and their consequences. We found that the reliance on a vertical leadership (controlling) strategy led to external legitimization but not internal legitimacy. We also found instances these strategies created unintended consequences which inhibited the strategic change initiative. In particular, horizontal leadership (enabling) strategies that spoke to the academic heartland were muted. We concluded that in universities undertaking major strategic change efforts controlling influence actions may be necessary but they are insufficient to levers of strategic change. The study is particularly important because it contributes to an understanding of strategic change in universities at a time when most such efforts fail to meet their objectives and there is a limited empirical literature to draw upon.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | strategic leadership, university, change management |
Research Division: | Education |
Research Group: | Other education |
Research Field: | Other education not elsewhere classified |
Objective Division: | Education and Training |
Objective Group: | Other education and training |
Objective Field: | Other education and training not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Townsend, T (Professor Tony Townsend) |
ID Code: | 113133 |
Year Published: | 2017 (online first 2016) |
Deposited By: | Education |
Deposited On: | 2016-12-14 |
Last Modified: | 2017-11-20 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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